The Kalash are an ancient, indigenous, pagan tribe living in three isolated valleys in the Hindu Kush mountains of Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan, just a few kilometers from the Afghan border. Kalash people once lived on both sides of the border, but all of those on the Afghan side were forced to convert to Islam in the 1890s. Many on the Pakistani side have also converted, either through coercion or by choice. Those who convert shed not only their religion but also their customs, style of dress, and even their language. There are now fewer than 4000 people who still follow the Kalash customs and speak their endangered language, Kalashamun.
Kalash culture is unique in many ways. In a region dominated by fundamentalist Islam, the Kalash worship many gods and spirits, celebrate with music and wine, and pride themselves on the freedom of their women. There are many theories about their origins. The mythical homeland of the Kalash is called Tsiam, and according to Kalash legend, members of Alexander the Great's armies are among their ancestors. Both their language and religion are often compared to those of ancient Greece, but the similarities could be attributed to their common proto Indo-European heritage. Linguists classify the language as Dardic, a local language family.
The Kalash people are mostly goat herders and subsistence farmers. Their main agricultural products are wheat, corn, mulberries, and walnuts. Money was virtually unknown in the Kalash Valleys until recent decades, when a new government-build road made it possible for outsiders to visit the valleys. Now, there are guest houses, simple restaurants, and small shops, which cater to Pakistani and foreign tourists who come to admire the beautiful landscape and seemingly idyllic way of life.