DCO Chitral distributes necessary kits among Kalash women

The Kalash women were provided with the paraphernalia of maternity homes (locally called bashaleni) situated in all the three Kalash valleys of Bumburate, Birir and Rumbur by the district government on Saturday.

A function was held in the offices of district coordination officer, Chitral in which the women received the necessary kits, equipments and utensils needed inside the bashaleni.

Addressing on the occasion, Chitral DCO Rahmatullah Wazir said that the Kalash culture is the prime source of promoting tourism in the area that possess a unique culture and practice obsolete ways of life.

He said that bashaleni was one of the important components of their culture and it was imperative to strengthen and equip them to facilitate the Kalash women and save them from different ailments by giving a hygienic environment inside it.

Kalash women move to ‘Bashali’ during menstruation and childbirth because they are considered impure during this time. Bashali, also known as Bashaleni, is like a maternity home, which is built away from the main houses, and no
men are allowed to enter it or even touch its walls or doors. The women confined to the Bashali spend their time gossiping and doing some handicraft work. Their families give them food but no one touches them during their stay in the secluded house.

After the child is born, the women stay there for at least 10 days while menstruating women stay there during the time of the periods. They come back after taking bath.

Some of the Kalash women present on the occasion, Janook bibi, Asmana Mas and others said that they faced a number of problems inside the bashaleni including the shortage of different tools required for different purposes.

They said that although both the government and non-governmental organizations but the shortage of items has constructed the buildings of maternity homes persisted as before.

It is pertinent to note that the Kalash women folk spend their menses period in an isolated place called bashaleni present in every small village while their exit from the place before is strictly tabooed and as per their religious dogma, the women are untouchable
and highly dirty.

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Posted by Sonia Bashir on Nov 27 2011. Filed under Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry