Chilam Joshi

Welcoming the spring

The festival begins in the middle of May, usually running from the 13th to the 16th. It signals the start of the warm season for the Kalash community. Across three high valleys, residents gather to welcome the spring through communal song and dance. Women traditionally dress in newly made clothes for the occasion. The shared dances bring together people of all ages, celebrating renewed life and marking the shift away from winter.

Prayers and courtships

Chilam Joshi serves sacred as well as social purposes. During the gathering, worshippers pray to the deity Goshidai, seeking safety and good health for their domestic livestock. Alongside these religious rites, the festival provides a customary setting for young adults to look for future marriage partners. As the festivities conclude, couples who have successfully found a partner announce their intended unions to the assembled community.

Valley life and visitors

The festivities unfold across the three Kalasha Valleys located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among these, Bumburet Valley receives the largest number of travelers, mainly because it is easier to reach. Over the years, the celebration has adapted in step with changes in Kalash culture. In addition to its local meaning, the gathering now functions as a way to share Kalash heritage with outside visitors, supporting the valley economy through tourism.

How Chilam Joshi is kept

Over three to four days in mid-May, the Kalash people gather across their valleys. Women wear new garments, and villagers participate in communal dances and musical performances. Families pray to the deity Goshidai for the health of their herds. During the festivities, singles look for future spouses, concluding the festival with public announcements of new couples.

When and where

The festival takes place every year in the middle of May, usually running across three to four days from 13 May to 16 May to welcome the spring season.

The festival is celebrated in the Kalasha Valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, with Bumburet Valley receiving the most visitors due to its accessibility.

What Chilam Joshi means

For the Kalash community, the event represents the arrival of spring and the renewal of community ties. Prayers to the deity Goshidai express their deep reliance on healthy livestock, while songs, dances, and marriage announcements celebrate social vitality and future continuity.

Questions people ask about Chilam Joshi

See also

NowruzThe Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnicsLohriA northern Indian midwinter festival of evening bonfires, folk songs and harvest foodsHoliA spring festival of colours and bonfires that marks the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.HanamiA Japanese spring custom of gathering under blooming cherry trees to eat, drink, and celebrate the fleeting beauty of th

Good reading and sources

• کافرستان میں چلم جوش تہوارBBC, Article
• The Kalash way of lifeDawn, Article
• کافرستان میں چلم جوش تہوارBBC, Article
• The Kalash way of lifeDawn, Article

• Chilam Joshi Festival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.