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Kho people (Chitralis)

Ethnic groups in Pakistan (dark-green area is Khowar)
Regions with significant populations
Pakistan	37,8000 (in 2011)
Afghanistan	14,7000 (in 2004)
Uzbekistan	2,7800 (in 2004)
Languages
Khowar, Farsi, Urdu, and Pashto can be understood as second languages
Religion
Islam (Sunni and Ismaili) Kalash religion (minority)
Related ethnic groups
Other Dardic peoples

The Kho people (Template:Lang-khw), also known as Chitralis (چترالي), are the Dardic ethnic group of the people of Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. They speak the Khowar language, one of the Dardic languages, also known as Chitrali.

Culture

The Kho culture is one that pays heavy emphasis on poetry, song and dance. Kho people also have a great respect of law and order. This in contrast to the generally lawless traditions of almost all of the neighbouring regions. Much of this can be attributed to Chitral being a stable kingdom for most of its history, where the rule of law and the will of the ruler came before tribal concepts such as revenge and isolationism.

Because of Chitral's location at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia the Kho people display a wide variety of cultures, largely depending upon their ancestral ethnic group and family history.

Languages and dialects

According to the linguist Rehmat Aziz Chitrali, the founder of Khowar Academy, there are seven dialects of Khowar language which are spoken in Pakistan and Afghanistan:

• Khowar
• Kohwari
• Kashkari
• Arniya
• Savi
• Balkhi
• Takhari

Aside from Khowar, Farsi is also widely spoken. Urdu and Pashto are also used as second languages.

Folk music

The Kho music & musical instruments are very famous in the region. folk singers and reed instrument players have a special respect in the Kho society and a must in their festivities. Mainly used instruments are SurnaiShehnai, Sitar, and reed instruments. The Kho sitar is a popular musical instrument in Chitral It is made out of mulberry wood with five steel strings arranged in three courses, the outer ones have double strings, tuned in unison, while the inner course is single. here are few most papular music tone of the area.

• Shishtoo-war (Sauz) is popular folk music played with shehnai on happy occasions mostly on marriages etc.
• Shab-daraaz (Dani) is a sad tone based on heartbroken love poems.
• Ghalhwar is a combination of Dani and Sauz. This is a mixture of fast and classical music played at the starting of a polo match.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, the Khowar people majority found in Khyber pakhtunkhwa region which includes, Malakand Division, Chitral District, Dir, Swat and Peshawar District. This people are also found in Gilgit Baltistan.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, the Kho people are found in Afghanistan's Northern region, majority in Badakhshan, Kunduz, Balkh, and Takhar.

See also

• Khowar language
• Khoshey People

References

1. "chitral". Royalark.net. 1937-06-01. Retrieved 2013-04-15.

External links

• chitraltoday.net
• Chitrali Khow article at Hindu Kush Trails

v t e Ethnic groups in Afghanistan
Ethnic groups	Aimaq Arabs Baloch Brahui Dalak Dom Gurjars Jat Kho Moghol Nuristanis Pamiris Pashayi Pashtuns Punjabis Tajiks Turkic Hazaras Kyrgyz Qizilbash Turkmens Uzbeks Wakhi
Foreign nationals	Armenians Indians Pakistanis Russians
Afghanistan portal

• Ethnic groups in Pakistan
• Ethnic groups in Afghanistan
• Social groups of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
• Dardic peoples
• South Asia
• Chitral District
• Chitrali people