Kalash girl

Shy Kalash girl in street with grapes in a hand.

Kalash women usually wear long black robes, often embroidered with

cowrie shells. For this reason, they are known in Chitral as "The

Black Kafirs". Men have adopted the Pakistani shalwar kameez, while

children wear small versions of adult clothing after the age of four.

In contrast to the surrounding Pakistani culture, the Kalash do not

in general separate males and females or frown on contact between

the sexes. However, menstruating girls and women are sent to live in

the "bashaleni", the village menstrual building, during their

periods, until they regain their "purity". They are also required to

give birth in the bashaleni. There is also a ritual

restoring "purity" to a woman after childbirth which must be

performed before a woman can return to her husband