General

Kalash Festival 2024-25

Kalash Festival is one of the most unique and taboo for many in Pakistan and elsewhere on earth. Kalasha tribe celebrates many festivals around the year. The three main Kalash Festivals are Chilam Joshi (spring festival), Choimus (winter festival) and Uchal (summer festival).

Our holiday options for the three Kalash festival are given in the table below.

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All three are explained below:

Kalash Festival – Chilam Joshi (Spring)

Chilam Joshi Festival is one the most vital kalash festivals.  Kalash Festival of Chilam Joshi is also known as Kalash spring festival. The Kalash people celebrate this four day festival across all three Kalash valleys of Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir. A large number of domestic and foreign tourists attend the Chilam Joshi festival every year.

Chilam Joshi begins with “Milk day”. Ten days prior to the festival, The Kalasha people store milk from their households. On the day of the festival the people of Kalash offer their libation. The festival reflects their unique cultural richness, the harmony in their society and message of peace to the world. They ask for blessing from the God and pray for a prosperous year of agriculture and health and safety of their herds.

The main objective behind the Kalash festival of Chilam Joshi is that Kalasha men and women can find themselves a spouse to get married. The women wear traditional attire with lively colors and hair dresses have patterns of flowers on it. They wear beaded necklaces which compliments their dresses and head gears.

Men wear traditional Shalwar Kameez with a waistcoat made of wool. They dance together and sing in a circle on drum beats. Every year this festival brings smile to the bachelors and spinsters of Kalash Valley tribes as it gives them an opportunity to choose their life partners and announce their names on the last day of the festival.

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Kalash Festival: Uchal (Summer)

Uchal, also known as Utchal is a summer Kalash festival. Kalasha people during this festival pay homage to God by celebrating the harvest and also thanking their God for blessing them with good food and crops. Corn, buttermilk and cheese are prepared to celebrate the festival.

People of Kalash take a procession to a high plateau which is located outside to the village in Balangkuru and they pray to the God and this is where the long night of dancing begins. This Kalash festival is moved to different locations of the valleys and it continues for several days.

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Kalash Festival – Choimus (Winter)

Kalash festival of Choimus begins on the winter solstice and holds great importance among the Kalasha people. Choimus, also known as Chitirmas, Chaumos is a winter Kalash festival. The annually observed event symbolizes and forecasts prosperity of the village and its people in the coming year. The locals perform rituals for purification during the festival at the dawn of the new year.

People go out in numbers to seek foxes which are a good omen to sight at this time. Torch lit processions arrive from nearby villages at the main traditional dancing place called a “Charsue”. The dancing and festivities are held indoor that go late into the night as the local wine is handed around the bonfire.

The tribal elders gather at hilltops to watch the rising sun of the new year that is followed by goat sacrifices made to the Goddess, “Jastak”, and the blood is sprinkled at the temple Jastarkhan.

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Dates for Kalash Festivals

 Kalash Festivals 2024 Dates

Festivals Dates Time
Chilam Joshi Festival (Kalash spring festival) Mon 13 May – Thu 16 May 8:00 AM
Festival of Uchal (Kalash summer festival) Tue 20 Aug – Thu 22 Aug 8:00 AM
Festival of Choimus (Kalash winter festival) Sun 15 Dec – Sun 22 Dec 8:00 AM

Kalash Festivals 2025 Dates

Festivals Dates Time
Chilam Joshi Festival (Kalash spring festival) Wed 13 May – Sat 16 May 8:00 AM
Festival of Uchal (Kalash summer festival) Thu 20 Aug – Sat 22 Aug 8:00 AM
Festival of Choimus (Kalash winter festival) Tue 15 Dec – Tue 22 Dec 8:00 AM

 

Website Last Updated: February 15th, 2024
Summary
product image
Rating
1star1star1star1star1star
User Rating
3.5 based on 20 votes
Company
Apricot Tours Pakistan
Adventure
Kalash Festival
Price
USD 1690
Product Availability
Available in Stock

Tour review scores and score breakdown

10 / 10

Based on 9 reviews

Guest reviews are written by our customers after their tour of Kalash Festival.

Overall
10   
Accommodation
10   
Transport
10   
Meals
10   
Guide
10   
Value for money
10   
Program accuracy
9   

Guest reviews

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    Ryan Turner
    2017-10-18

    I was astonished by the hospitability and beauty of the valley. It was not anything like what the media shows. It is a must visit destination.

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    Debra Nile
    2016-12-17

    Thank for an amazing trip. This trip changed my whole perception about Pakistan.

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    Kwang Lin
    2016-12-12

    I am in love with Pakistani food. Our guide was a local so it was for us to get along with the local community.

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    nubtibbek
    2014-03-20

    I would like to come back one day and attend the remaining Kalash festivals. Chilam Joshi was just amazing. One of the best decisions I took in life that changed my perspective of Pakistan or any third-world country that is shown as the bad or dangerous country by our news.

    Private investment in the hotel industry around Kalash is much needed. It will enable growth in the region.

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    Isabelle Fisher
    2013-10-11

    Our trip was unforgettable mainly due to prompt responses and efforts in managing hotels, transport and jeeps by Sheraz. Thank you Sheraz. Bella

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    Alexei Ishchenko
    2012-09-25

    Every penny I spent on this tour was worth it. My system couldn’t cope up with the Pakistani food. Other than that, it was awesome.

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    Larissa
    2010-09-17

    A visit to Kalash Valley is highly recommended, it is full of rich culture and beautiful valleys.

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    Dara Torres
    2010-08-30

    It was hard to find a reliable travel agent for the Kalash Festival. We were reluctant to travel to Pakistan. These people have been helpful throughout the tour. Thank You for an amazing adventure.

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    Sawao Katai
    2009-09-17

    I had the time of my life. It was simply awesome, I hope the government is working to preserve the culture of Kalash and Chitral.

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