THAAP and IAC (Institute for Art & Culture) jointly facilitated the Kalasha communities of the three valleys to prepare the nomination dossier based on the extensive work carried out through 2015 and 2016 preparing the Community Based Inventory (CBI), from which the ICH element of Suri Jagek was selected by the community concerned for nomination. THAAP & IAC with the support of UNESCO and the government facilitated the preparation of the dossier.

The element chosen by the Kalasha community for inscription was Suri Jagek: The Kalasha Meteorological and Astronomical Practice of Observing the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Shadows. Suri Jagek demonstrates the communities’ relationship with their sentient surroundings and highlights a long history of recurring “events” tied to topographical interaction with celestial bodies. For instance, if the Sun rises from a marking known as Satratadau observed on the Goremon Mountain in Mumuret, the word itself indicates that it may snow for seven days and seven nights. The logic behind this diachronic conjecture is that multiple times in the past stretching over millennia it has been observed that it tended to snow heavily when the Sun rose from that particular spot. Through the practice, the traditional Kalasha lunisolar calendar was formed based on which was the subsistence economy (transhumance, animal husbandry, and agriculture) and important feasts, festivals, and rituals. Appropriate times for travelling to pastures and returning to villages, planting and harvesting of crops, the type of seed to sow depending on the weather are still decided on the basis of this practice. Visual cues existing within the periphery of the topography are used to mark the positions of the rising as well as setting Sun.

THAAP and IAC (Institute for Art & Culture) would like to acknowledge the unwavering support of the Governments of KPK, Chitral and representatives from the National, Provincial, and District personnel. They were an integral part of the CBI process and awareness raising processes. The District Government’s support has been critical whilst carrying out fieldwork with the late DC Osama Ahmed Warraich who had been well briefed on THAAP and UNESCO’s endeavours in the Kalasha valleys, which he supported fully. Ex-Joint secretary National History and Literary Heritage Division – Nasiruddin MeshoodMirza and current joint secretary Nazir Ahmed had been crucial at all the stages of the project. This research endeavour has been funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and the Embassy of Switzerland. We extend special thanks to UNESCO Islamabad office and the Director Ms. Vibeke Jensen for her valuable support and persistent efforts to help Pakistan in discharging its obligations as signatories to UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

We are especially pleased that the Kalasha project added important methodologies and documents, including the Community Based Inventorying form along with a detailed instruction sheet so that Pakistani communities could add to the endeavour of identifying and inventorying their Intangible Cultural Heritage assets which gives communities, groups and sometimes individuals their special unique identity and is a source of pride for them. The forms are available on the Ministry of National Heritage website, the Institute for Art and Culture and THAAP Websites.

From the local community the project team was assisted by many as part of the team:

Rumbur Valley:

1. Bakhtawar Shah – (Qazi, Kalashgrom, Rumbur),

2. Daud Shah – (Daud Shah – Social Volunteer (AVDP), Board members (KEPS), Kalasha Welfare (Ex- vice president), Rumbur Welfare Society (General Secretary)] Kalashagrom community based school; Kalashagrom, Rumbur

3. Saifullah Jan – (Village elder, ex member of district Government, and tourism operator, Balanguru, Rumbur),

4. Sher Wazir – (B.A. Political Science & Law – Chitral Degree College., School teacher) Location – Kalashagrom village, Rumbur valley

5. Naseem Bibi (School teacher) – Kalashagrom, Rumbur

6. Ishak Kalash – Student (FC College Lahore) – Grom, Rumbur

7. Rehmat Wali (Craftsperson) – Kalashagrom, Rumbur

8. Firoze Khan (Kalashgrom, Rumbur),

9. Jabbar Khan (Craftsperson) – Grom, Rumbur

10. Yasir Khan Kalasha (hospitality) – (Balanguru,

Birir Valley:

1. Meer Bacha (Qazi) – (Aspar  Birir)

2. Noor Baig/Gulistan (Qazi) – (Guru, Birir)

3. Shah Hussein – Tour Guide – (Guru, Birir)

4. Siyaz Gul – (Grambetkuy, Birir)

5. Shezadiya – (Grambetkuy, Birir)

6. Mayani – (midwife) – Guru, Birir

7. Ustoor Khan – Craftsperson – (Guru Birir)

8. Jameel Babar – School employee and musician (Guru, Birir).

9. Iqbal Shah – (School teacher, Aspar Birir)

Bumburet Valley:

1. Malang Khan – (Qazi) – Broun, Bumburet

2. Salamat Khan (Qazi) – Krakal, Bumburet

3. Krishna Mochik – (Qazi) – Krakal, Bumburet

 4. Imran Kabir (District Counselor, minority member, Chitral) – Broun, Bumburet

5. Akram Hussain Bulasing (Museum in charge, Kalasadur museum) – Broun, Bumburet

6. Sher Alam Kalash (School teacher, Government Kalasha Primary School) – Sarukjal, Bumburet

7. Arab Gul (M.A, Archaeology, Quaid-e-Azam University) – Krakal, Bumburet

8. Shah Feroz Kalash (Msc – Environmental and Biological Sciences) – Anish, Bumburet

9. Luke Rehmat (CEO, Ishpata News and Kalasha Peoples Development Network) – Anish, Bumburet 

10. Zarin Khan Kalash – TDCP office manager (Anish, Bumburet),

11. Mohamed Rafi – Bumburet Nazim – (Broun Bumburet -),

12. Millat Gul  – (District Government representative), (Broun Bumburet), 

13. Shahi Gul (craftsperson and village elder, owner of crafts centers) – Broun, Bumburet.

14. Qari Khalilullah (Sheikhanandeh, Bumburet),

15. Faizi Khan Kalash (Village elder) – Broun, Bumburet

16. Rehmat Din (School teacher, Kalasadur) – Broun, Bumburet

17. Nimar Gul (School teacher, Kalasadur museum) – Anish, Bumburet

18. Bhutto Khan (Tourism operator) ,Broun Bumburet),

19. Shaira Bibi (M.A International relations, Peshawar University) – Krakal, Bumburet

20. Shaira Bibi (Government Degree College, Chitral) – Broun, Bumburet

21. Ishfaq Ahmed (tour guide) – Batrik, Bumburet