CAWMOS /ʧaʋmɒs/ THE WINTER FESTIVAL
Cawmos (9-22 December) is the longest and most solemn festival for the Kalasha, when everybody and everything has to be purified. It is the period when rituals and praying are mingled with chanting and singing and dancing and amusement.
Cawmos, like the other two annual festivals (the Zhoshi and Ucaw) is inextricably associated with their religious beliefs. It is the time when Balimahin, one of the gods worshiped by the Kalasha, comes to Bumburet valley on horseback from Tsyam. This is shown in the abundance of goat sacrifices, dry fruit, t'at'ori, and wine offerings as well as juniper fire (meant for purification), during their prayers to this divine spirit. Balimahin’s sanctuary is a stone wall on top of which there are wooden horse heads representing his flying horses taking him to Bumburet valley.
The burning of freshly cut cedar branches
Dancing the hus'at'ik, “spiral-like circular dance”
Making goat-like statuettes, called kut'amrũ, from dough
The ritual of “feeding” the spirits of the dead
Having fun dancing in disguise
The day of women’s purification with s'is'au (pure bread)
The morning a child is dressed the Kalasha uniform and enters the Kalasha community
The ritual of men’s purification with male goat blood sprinkled on their heads
Women making conical baskets (the grohonyak) while singing to Balimahin
The night of lit torches
