Men have adopted the Pakistani salwar kameez, while children wear small versions of adult clothing after the age of four.
In contrast to the culture of Pakistan, there are no restrictions imposed on Kalash women. The Kalasha do not in general separate males and females or frown on contact between the sexes.
Women are allowed to choose their husbands.
However, there is the ‘bashelini' – a house in the village where menstruating women are sent until they regain ‘purity' and rituals must be performed before she can return to her husband.
Elopement is common in Kalash culture and astonishingly, among married women. The wife may write a letter to the new man how much her husband paid for her to marry her.
The Kalash tribals earn their living by herding goats and farming.
It is a cashless economy. Tourism now plays a major role in their economy.
Tourists have to pay toll to Pakistan government to visit the Kalash Valley. This is done to preserve the unique tribe.
Being a very small minority in a Muslim-dominated region, the Kalash are under increasing danger from proselytizing Muslim militants from just across the border in Afghanistan and their hardline interpretation of Islam.
There have been recent Taliban incursions and a Greek aid worker was kidnapped in 2009 (she was returned unharmed four months later after an outcry).
However, their relative isolation may well ensure the Kalash tribals survive.
