The turning year
Festivals & Events
Listed by season rather than by date, because the dates are set locally and shift from one year to the next.
Spring
Chilam Joshi
KalashThe spring festival, held as the herds are readied for the high pastures. Marked by dancing, and by the blessing of milk and of the flocks.
Early summer
Ginani
HunzaThe harvest festival marking the first cutting of the wheat crop, when the new grain is formally allowed to be eaten.
Summer
Uchal
KalashThe harvest festival, celebrating the wheat and barley crop and the cheese brought down from the summer pastures.
Winter solstice
Chawmos
KalashThe longest and most important festival of the Kalasha year, held around the winter solstice. Largely closed to outsiders, and the point at which the ritual year turns.
Want to be there for one?
Two of our itineraries are built around festivals. Group sizes are small and the surrounding days matter as much as the festival itself.