Peshawar, Sept 4, 2025: The Kalash community, residing in the valleys of Bumburet, Rumbur and Birir of Lower Chitral is renowned worldwide for its distinct civilization and unique customs.
To document these centuries-old traditions in written form, the KP government has prepared a draft called the “Kalash Marriage Bill,” which seeks to integrate both tradition and law.
This draft has been approved by the Cabinet’s legislative committee.
What is the Kalash Marriage Bill?
The proposed bill takes into account the Kalash community’s beliefs regarding the age of marriage, dowry, divorce, and inheritance.
Minimum Age for Marriage and Consent
Under the Kalash Marriage Bill, the minimum age for marriage has been set at 18 years, and the consent of both the boy and the girl is mandatory.
According to the Kalash Act, if a girl chooses to marry of her own free will, all associated customs will be referred to as Alashing Marat and Shisha Estongas.
Gifts to the Bride’s Family
Under the Kalash Marriage Bill, after the consent of the girl or her parents is verified, the husband will present gifts to the bride’s parents or close relatives. However, the value of these gifts is not fixed; each man may give according to his financial capacity.
Polygamy in Kalash Tribe
Men in the Kalash tribe are permitted to have more than one wife, provided that they are financially stable and able to meet the needs of all their wives.
According to the Kalash Marriage Bill, after a man takes a second wife, the first wife has the freedom to either continue living with her husband or opt for separation.
Marriage Registration
All marriages in the Kalash community will be conducted in the presence of the chairman of the relevant village council and the appointed secretary.
The secretary, appointed by the local government, will verify the marriages and complete the registration process. Both the bride and groom must possess identification cards for the marriage to be valid.
Divorce Procedure
Under the Kalash Act, if a husband divorces his wife at his own discretion, he will not be entitled to claim any compensation. He cannot demand money from either his wife or her parents. However, under this law, the gifts given at the time of marriage must be returned to the wife.
Right of the Wife to Divorce
The Kalash Marriage Act grants the wife the right to divorce or leave her husband. In such a case, her family is obliged to pay half of the marriage expenses to the husband.
If the woman remarries after divorce, she must pay double the expenses to her first husband. This custom is locally referred to as Ja Prik.
Prohibition of Marriage Within Blood Relations
According to the law of the Kalash Valley, marriage within blood relatives is prohibited. Marriage within the father’s family is not allowed up to seven generations.
Originally Published In Urdu News