CHITRAL, Jan 23: While most primitive ways of life in Chitral are undergoing a change the Kalash women have been able to preserve their culture specially their traditional costumes.

He said that the costumes worn by the Kalash women essentially consist of three components; bore (a long shirt with jewellery on it); kopesi (a cap embroidered with beads) and a simple shalwar (loose trouser). The cap is long enough to cover the upper part of the back and the shirt covers the whole body down to the feet. He said that the dress is well suited to the domestic needs of the Kalash women who mostly work in the fields.

Mr Baig said that the piece of cloth the Kalash women use is very coarse in nature which suits the climatic conditions of the valley which are very harsh. He said that the dress is equally useful in the summer season. He said that in winter, the Kalash women and girls place a small basket (called sangachi) on their backs the whole day which helps them a lot while working in the fields. He said that the traditional dress especially the bore is much costlier than the normal women dress.

Mr Baig said that the cost of the traditional shirt and cap goes up with the addition of beads and corals. Regarding the existing prices of the costumes, he said that a common bore and kopesi cost about Rs7,000 but if lavishly embroidered with beads and corals their price can go up to Rs20,000. He said that the Kalash women get the dress prepared for themselves on the occasion of their spring festival 'chilim jusht' and they use a new suit for each day throughout the five-day festivity.