What is the culture of chitral?

Answer 1

The history described about the area is too brief here. The population of the area was of Aryan which was gradually pushed to the south by the influx of Turkic population from the north and Persian(Tajik) population from the west. These northern people were either already Muslims or did convert to Islam and influenced the Aryan population of the area with their stronger moral, social and administrative system. It has been a wrong name given to the tribes as Dard which is totally fake. The last Aryan population that merged into the Chitrali or Khow society was that living in some areas of Drosh in southern Chitral some one and a half century ago.
The language Chitrali or Khowar does possess Old Aryan and Sanskrit, Old Turkic and Persian words which are which are abandoned in the rest of the world now. The root verb of Chitrali or Khowar language is generally derived from Turkic, e.g;
Chitrali/Khowar Turkic Meaning
alik almak to take
gik gelmek to come
jibik yemek to eat
dondik donmek to turn back
orek oyumak to sleep
kosik koxamak to run/walk
dik dovmak to beat

The old Aryan and Sanskrit words in Chitrali language are as under;
Chitrali Meaning
Ashru tears
seen river
kapal head
dok mound
tuk a bit
kanchani a whore
istur a horse
hardi heart

Chitral was ruled by Mehtars or Kings upto the occupation of the valley by British and Indian forces as the part of the big game in 1895 A.D. The adjoining areas of Gilgit and Nooristan were also parts of the State of Chitral and the government machinery was very much democratic as every major step by the government was taken only after a proper council with the notables of different valleys of the area. By the time British occupied the area they first cut off its adjoining areas and then made it a proper subject state appointing the rulers of their choice who were rude to their population and needed no council having not fear of depose. Then later Indian and then Pakistani evil of politics further damaged the atmosphere of the area.