CHITRAL, April 15 The festivities held to celebrate the death of a Kalash elder, Raheem Baig, continued for three days in the Bumburate valley.

Mohkam Ayuni, a development worker of the valley, told Dawn here on Wednesday that traditional ceremonies were arranged and supervised by a Japanese woman Akiko Wada, who had married a Kalash man Jamati Khan, 22 years ago as she was impressed by the Kalash culture. The deceased was Ms Wada's father-in-law and she spent about Rs0.5 million on the event, he said.

“Fifty goats, 300kg of cheese, 250kg ghee and 120kg honey were consumed during the ceremony,” he said, adding that the Kalash community from the Birir and Rumbur valleys also attended the event.

Mr Ayuni said that instead of mourning a death, traditionally the Kalash people make merriment for three days; they sing and dance in the community hall where the corpse is placed.

He said that this was the first demise of a family member of her husband and Ms Wada seemed more enthusiastic about the festivity.

He said that Ms Wada had fully absorbed herself in the Kalash culture and she was also striving for the uplift of the valley and minority community. She had recently electrified the valley by constructing a hydropower station in the area, which was inaugurated by the Japanese ambassador to Pakistan.