The 19th Century Nuristani Girl

The Nuristanis, also known as Kafiristanis, are the indigenous ethnic group of today Nuristan Province, Northeastern Afghanistan. They speak the Nuristani language and are closely related to the Kalash people of the Chitral region. They were known as the Kafiristanis by surrounding inhabitants in the 19th Century. They practiced the ancient religion (same religion today Kalash people are practicing,) called Kalash, the form of ancient Vedic religion. Interestingly, the religion of Kalash revered the creator god, Yama, the religion also involved the sacrifice of cows, goats, and sheep. During the reign of Emir Abdur Rahman Khan, the Emir carried a military campaign in Kafiristan/Nuristan and followed up his conquest. So eventually, it led them to become Muslim. Non-Muslim religious practices endure in Nuristan today to some degree as folk customs. The pre-Islamic culture in Nuristan supported wine-making in this region, a practice that may still continue in the highlands. In their native rural areas, they are often farmers, herders, and dairymen.