Suri Jagek is a traditional Kalasha meteorological and astronomical knowledge system practiced by members of the Kalash Community living in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It involves watching the sun and moon, observing stars, and watching shadows according to topography.
Kalasha people use the system to determine the appropriate time to sow seeds, keep animals, and predict natural disasters because it is a complex structure of empirical knowledge. Also, it is used for determining the dates of important social events, festivals, feasts, and religious ceremonies according to the Kalasha calendar.
Suri Jagek illustrates the connection of the Kalasha people to their surrounding environment, as well as the importance of their geographical context for maintaining their way of life. Quazis, who is authoritative on matters related to religion, history, and indigenous conflict resolution, farmers, shepherds, and some village elders, who were present at Suri Jagek, shared their experiences at Suri Jagek in community gatherings.
A wide range of knowledge connected to star constellations, meanings of different types of rainbows and clouds, as well as shadows, is covered by Suri Jagaek. The Libra is thought that the constellation Tarazu is particularly significant over the period of Amaal Mastruk, which coincides with the Spring season.
It is believed that the constellation in its peak clarity during the month represents a time when the ground will be soft enough for planting crops the next morning. Through the innovative transfer of information of folk stories, songs, proverbs, and rhetoric, the viability of the knowledge system rests on the innovative transmission of information and certain aspects of the system – for example, using shadows as a tool to rear cattle and livestock. – are being redesigned to fit into modern society.
Even though the practice has been around for a long time as an oral tradition, the development within the Kalasha valleys poses a threat to the ancient observatory, resulting in a lack of awareness among the younger generation about its cultural significance and utilitarian benefit. Nevertheless, as the digital age gains traction, more people are choosing technologically advanced techniques to predict weather conditions.
Suri Jagek is a traditional Kalasha meteorological and astronomical knowledge system. It is defined as ‘observing the sun’ – mostly practiced in the Hindu Kush mountain range – which involves watching the sun and moon, observing stars, and watching shadows according to topography. Nature and the universe are the elements of indigenous Kalasha Knowledge.
This tradition is practiced by members of the Kalash Community living in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.
Kalasha people use the system to determine the appropriate time to sow seeds, keep animals, and predict natural disasters because it is a complex structure of empirical knowledge. Also, it is used for determining the dates of important social events, festivals, feasts, and religious ceremonies according to the Kalasha calendar. It illustrates the connection of the Kalasha people with their surrounding environment, as well as the importance of their immediate geographical context for maintaining their way of life. Quazis, who are authoritative on matters related to religion, history, and indigenous conflict resolution, farmers, shepherds, and some village elders, who were present at Suri Jagek, shared their experiences at Suri Jagek in community gatherings. Jirga (communal forum) is the process of gaining consensus. Yet, at the moment, this only takes place in the Rukmu valley on the 16th of December. A wide range of knowledge connected to star constellations, meanings of different types of rainbows and clouds, as well as shadows, is covered by Suri Jagaek. The Libra is thought that the constellation Tarazu is particularly significant over the period of Amaal Mastruk, which coincides with the Spring season. It is believed that the constellation in its peak clarity during the month represents a time when the ground will be soft enough for planting crops the next morning. Through the innovative transfer of information of folk stories, songs, proverbs, and rhetoric, the viability of the knowledge system rests on the innovative transmission of information and certain aspects of the system – for example, using shadows as a tool to rear cattle and livestock. – are being redesigned to fit into modern society.
Even though the practice has been around for a long time as an oral tradition, the development within the Kalasha valleys, however, poses a threat to the ancient observatory, resulting in a lack of awareness among the younger generation about its cultural significance and utilitarian benefit. Nevertheless, as the digital age gains traction, more people are choosing technologically advanced techniques to predict weather conditions.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/suri-jagek-observing-the-sun-traditional-meteorological-and-astronomical-practice-based-on-the-observation-of-the-sun-moon-and-stars-in-reference-to-the-local-topography-01381) (https://www.ichlinks.com/archive/elements/elementsV.do?nation=PK&page=1&elementsUid=13829896116392900033&mode=grid) |Subject=Belief, Ritual |Country=Pakistan |Region=Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |SDG=(11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (13) Climate Action }}