SARAZARI (9-10 December). The burning of freshly cut cedar branches.
In late afternoon of 9 December some boys and girls walk uphill to the forest and cut fresh cedar tree branches and burn heaps of them, thus making a thick smoke, a message of purification for the Kalasha, mixed with their Cawmos songs. Both groups of boys and girls compete over the highest smoke of their fires while singing and dancing in separate lines. Late at night the ritual of the burning of the worn out baskets takes place, while singing, clapping and dancing wildly herald the most solemn festival for the Kalasha. Night prayers and rituals will close Sarazari, the first ceremony of Cawmos.
Cutting and burning fresh cedar branches followed by
singing, chanting and dancing by groups of boys and
girls. Bonfire of old baskets and wild dance.