Abstract
The Kalasha society (Pagan people of the District Chitral-KP) is divided into two spheres; onjesta (pure) and
pragata (impure) by means of religion and culture (collectively called dastoor). According to the Kalasha dastoor
the women falls in pragata sphere and most polluted during their specific days therefore they cannot stay at home
during menstruation period each month and during giving the birth to child. This studies intend to explore and
discuss bashali, the seclusion home for the Kalasha women with socio-cultural and religious perspectives. The
bashali home is constructed exterior to villages, downwards of the valley as in the Kalasha dastoor upper valleys
and villages are onjesta. A divinity of fertility is placed inside the bashali for blessing and comfort during the birth
of child. This paper intends to trace the change in behaviours of the Kalasha women who, in limited numbers, are
reluctant to attend bashali in their periods while majority enjoys to stay at bashali as they take it as the escape from
routine life and spend a good leisure time there. This paper intends to discuss different rituals attached to bashali
and the Kalasha women.
Muhammad Kashif Ali. (2020) A Historical Narrative of the Bashali: The Menstrual House as Cultural Identity of the Kalasha Women of the Hindu Kush (Chitral-Pakistan), Journal of the Research Society of Pakistan, Volume 57, Issue-3.
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