Mrachwaki Joshi 2024

 

Mrachwaki Joshi

It is the festival of the berry harvest. Mrach are the berries and waki is the harvest season. Berries are a very nutritious food for Kalash. In addition to fresh, the residents dry them. There are many types of mulberry and each type produces different berries in terms of taste, texture, size, color and beneficial properties. For each of these, the language of the Kalash has a special word. Dried berries are stored to be eaten in winter.

The events of the berry harvest festival mark the beginning of preparations for moving the herds to the mountain upper pastures.

The ripening of the berries is combined with the melting of the snow and the appearance of grass for the herds.

The "observers of the movements of the sun" announce the preparation of the events for the festival. The climax of the celebration includes the shepherds' invocations to the god Mohadeo before their departure for the mountains.

The day before, preparations are made in the area of ​​the stables, corrals. All offerings, breads, dairy products mainly white cheese, flour are placed in bags [formerly in leather pouches]

On the day of the small Joshe festival, the inhabitants of each settlement gather in the dance area and with the rhythm of the sacred drums prepare for the events of the day.

Before sunset the shepherds of the valley ascend to the altar of Mohadeo in Batrik village, carrying with them all the produce which they had prepared in their corrals. First the Saras ceremony takes place and then they dedicate the offerings to the altar. The shepherds turn to Mohanteo, the ruler of their valleys with prayers and supplications concerning their protection during the ascent and stay in the mountain upper pastures.

After the ceremony they distribute their cheeses to all the men and boys present.

Then everyone descends from the altar to the old choir stand above Bashali in the village of Batrik. Together with the women holding mulberry leaves they all proceed together to Batrik's great dance hall where they will dance the last dances of little Joshi.

The berries are harvested by the women and children of each family. A boy climbs the tree holding a long stick and tries to shake the branches with ripe berries. Women and girls spread sheets around the trunk. They collect the berries and put them in "saveo" {disc-shaped baskets}, and place them on the roofs of their houses to dry.