Pashayi people

Pashayi

Pashai boy with flower hat
Total population
(Approx. 500,000[1])
Regions with significant populations
Laghman, Kapisa and Nangarhar
Languages
Pashai language
Pashto also spoken as second language[1]
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Pashtuns, Kalash, Nuristani and Kashmiris

Pashayi or Pashai (Persian: مردم پشه‌ای) are a Dardic ethno-linguistic group living primarily in eastern Afghanistan. Their total population is estimated to be 500,000.[1] They are mainly concentrated in the northern parts of Laghman, Nangarhar, Kunar, Kapisa, Kabul, Baghlan, Nuristan, and also in Ghazni. Some believe the Pashai are descendants of ancient Gāndhārī.[2][3] Many Pashai consider themselves Pashtuns speaking a special language,[4] and many are bilingual in Pashto.[1] Pashai communities can also be found in the Chitral district of northwestern Pakistan. The majority of Pashai are Sunni Muslims and are often referred to as Kohistani,[4] while a minority are Nizari Ismaili Muslims.

Notable individuals

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 http://www.sil.org/asia/ldc/parallel_papers/ju-hong_yun.pdf
  2. ↑ Pashai. Everyculture.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-12.
  3. ↑ M. Longworth Dames; G. Morgenstierne & R. Ghirshman (1999). "AFGHĀNISTĀN". Encyclopaedia of Islam (CD-ROM Edition v. 1.0 ed.). Leiden, The Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill NV.
  4. 1 2 Pashai, Ethnic identity in Afghanistan, on nps.edu
  5. ↑ Henry Walter Bellew An Inquiry into the Ethnography of Afghanistan; p. 143

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