The Kalasha language is spoken in Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir valleys in District Chitral of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. All three of these valleys are situated near the town of Ayon, south of Chitral, and represent the Northern dialect of Kalasha. The language is equally understood in each valley with slight variances. The language most closely related to Kalasha is Khowar. Kalasha people can speak Khowar with varying degrees of proficiency.

Kalasha is spoken by about 2,500 to 3,000 people who call themselves Kalasha, thus implying

devotion to the Kalasha religion and way of life. However, the total number of speakers would be more if those who have converted to Islam are also counted. Although these converts are no longer regarded as members of the Kalasha community, they still speak their native language with their Kalasha kinsmen. There are about eight hundred Muslims (the group converted in the 1930s) who still speak Southern Kalasha in Urtsun valley.

Related Information:

• Writing System of Kalasha
• Last breaths of Kalasha in Kalkatak
• Covid-19 Awareness Message in Kalasha