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Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,
I came across this on Yahoo News. Although I don't agree with their practices or culture, I thought they made an interesting read. I'd also like to add that I don't endorse the way the article has been written.
May Allah subhanna wa ta'ala guide them to the straight path. Ameen.
Taken from: http://www.citizensugar.com/1641958When I ran across these jaw-droppingly striking pictures, I couldn't believe I'd never heard of the Kalash Tribe — and I wanted to rectify that immediately. The tribe lives nestled in the North-Western Province of Pakistan. Protected by the Hindu Kush mountain range lives this culture of people Muslims call Kafirs or “infidels”. Among the region known as Kafiristan lies the town of Brir, considered one of the last remaining settlements of the Kalash — or “wearers of black."
Its inhabitants consider themselves the direct descendants of Alexander the Great. The 3,500 souls are the last enclave of pagan tribespeople.
Incredibly, the Kalash have not changed much over the centuries. They make their own wine, elevate animals to religious status and believe in mountaintop fairies. To find out more about the tribe, read more.
Their gods, like those of the ancient Greeks, are split up into male and female deities and they claim they once belonged to highly literate culture until their books were burned by barbarian tribes. Shown in these pictures celebrating their annual Spring festival, the Kalash still maintain a fertility rite where a teenage boy is sent alone into the surrounding woods for a year and when he returns is treated to a feast and the mating rites to as many of the Kalash women he chooses.They struggle to preserve their identity from encroaching Islamic rule, deforestation, and entrepreneurs who take advantage of their simple natures — as well as the assault of the Justin Timberlake/cell phone/jeans avalanche of the modern world. Here's to hoping they resist — I'm so taken with the fact that real diversity still exists in our ever-shrinking world.
Have you heard of the Kalash?Have you ever seen such beautiful pictures? Is it possible to maintain an untouched culture in our modern age?
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17 comments:
That's interesting! I wonder how it is to be living a life that's not affected by the "modern life".
Sounds pretty impossible, but this proves me wrong.
It's still hard I think, hats off to the people who can.
Thanks for your comment, you've got an amazing blog here yourself ;)
well.. i went der a year back .. one of the most beautifull place in this planet.. yea people are kinda away from islam but still they are friendly and gud and respect the tourist and care about them..
Zaytuna:
I know, I was thinking the same too. But I think other tribes similar to these still exist. The North-African tribes in Africa and the Native Red Indians come to mind. But still, interesting.
Thanks :D
Jawwad:
Welcome to my blog. :) Yep, I've heard the NWFP areas in Pakistan are supposed to be beautiful. On another article I was reading on the Kalash tribe, it said they were very friendly and lived side by side by other people in harmony.
Asalaam `alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakato:-D
Dear Sister, I found your Blog by chance! My name is Aalia and I am a convert to Islam, by the Mercy of Allah s.w.t. My husband is from the U.A.E. and I was searching for Muslim women in th Emirates who I could look for tips etc. Insha'Allah we are gonna leave Canada once he is done his studying and either go straight back U.A.E. or make a short journey to the U.K. Allahu `alim. Your link list titled "Blog I Stalk" made me laugh because I have a similar one LoL! Anyways Sister my Blog is http://aaliaalways.blogspot.com Hope to hear back from you soon insha'Allah :-D
Ma3asalaama~
Aalia, Wa Alaykumsalam warahmutallahi wabarakathu, and mabrook on the marriage. :) May Allah subhanna wa ta'ala make it easy for you and a blessing. Ameen. And welcome to the Ummah Sister. :) Lol, I'll check the blog out, have a safe trip. If you need to know a bit more about Dubai or need to hook-up with coverts/reverts let me know insha'allah. Ma'asalam.
they look like paktunes , I could have mistaken them for kashmiris
As salam 'aleykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. SubhanAllah; for pagans some of them are certainly quite handsome.
Wa Alaykumsalam Warahmutallah,
Yep they sure are, aren't they. Btw, mabrook on converting to Islam, Welcome to the Ummah. :)
I used to live there, although I am not Saudi myself, it would be unwise to say women there are oppressed. Honestly, I believe Saudi is the safest place in the world, no hand guns, drugs, alcohol etc. Second, women may not have or show power publically, we all know it is women rule behind closed doors, and no man could be where he is today without some powerful woman. As for segregation of sexes, it might be a little too much for a westerner, but once you get used to it, its fine. Where else can you find resort beaches for women only. I think Saudi rocks if you want Halal fun. However, I do things some laws are unnecessary, like needing permission to go somewhere or not being able to drive a car (why is okay to go out with your male chauffer who is not a mahram?).
Assalaamu alaikum,
Very interesting. I was reading the article about the Kalash in The Telegraph
Interesting how the author remarks on misogynistic Islam and then in the next paragraph mention the boy being able to have sex with as many women of the tribe as HE chooses... hardly elevates the position of women. :/
"To observe their lives is to be transported far from today's North-West Frontier, with its increasingly militant, misogynistic brand of Islam..."
"...a teenage boy is selected to go alone into the high forests for almost a year. When he returns on a feast day, he may sleep with any and as many Kalash women as he chooses."
Umm Ibrahim, I thought the same thing. The author makes sleeping around with other Women seeming like a better thing.
Anonymous, I totally agree with you. I think both sides of the story should be shown and usually the Media ends up distorting views, especially when it concerns Muslims. They never discuss anything from the point of view of Muslim Women, our needs and things like 'halal fun'. It's a strange concept to them.
Assalamu alaikum. Br. Motamid and Sister VM: I am surprised at your comments. Beauty, along with other natural attributes is not distributed by Allah only to Muslims. Imagine if somebody made the comment "They are disbelievers but they are still physically strong". It would be a pathetic comment.
Anonymous, my apologies I did not mean it to sound like that. Obviously beauty is spread around everywhere regardless of people being muslim/non-muslim.
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Awesome post
I totally agree with you.
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