Communities in Hunza

COMMUNITIES IN HUNZA

The Hunzakutz were once animist until the 16th or 17th century, when they became Shia Muslims, one of the sect of Islam. In 1820 Mir of Hunza Mr. Silum Khan III went to Wakhan Badakhshan to spend his youth where Ismaili Islam was prevalent, and accept the Ismailism and brought Ismailism to Hunza.
Most of the people of Hunza are Ismaili Shia Muslims, followers of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, while in Ganish valley, a valley down the Karimabad has more than 90% Shia Itnashari(twelvers) Muslims. There are also a slight number of Sunnis and communities of the other faith.It was since the first arrival of Aga Khan fourth that proved a new phase in modern history of Hunza. He has provided a lot of funding for the area to develope standar of living and local economy under the umbrella of Aga Khan Developement Netework (AKDN).After visit of Aga Khan his “Aga Khan development network (AKDN)” took initiative step to develop the area, he realized that people in Hunza required Schools, Health units, link roads and irrigation channel, the Aga Khan Rural sports program started its work to construct Schools and health Units in Hunza and remote areas as well as Shimshal and Chuparsun.

RELIGIUS BELIEF OF ISMAILI MUSLIMS

The Legends also suggest that the only religions that flourish in high mountains are Buddhism and Hinduism. Islam flourishes in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in the coastal ranges of Yemen and Oman, among the peaks of northern and southern Turkey, in the Pamirs of Afghanistan and Russia and, above all, in the very highest reaches of the world: the western end of the Himalayan massif in northern Pakistan.As the valley of Hunza has seen many diverse cultures and civilizations through a passage of centuries from the Persian kings to Alexander the great, Kushans to Hindus and Buddhists to Muslims. The richness of Hunza culture is quite obvious, its folk music, dance, rituals and food have got the touch of diverse influences. Islam is devided into two major factions since the death of Hazrat Muhammad (P.B.U.H). They are known as Sunni and Shiat school of thought that hold a distinct set of religious belief. Shiat school of thought has a comprehensive concept of Immat after the death of the prophet (P.B.U.H). Shiat school of thought is further devided in many sects: Isnashary (twelers), Ismailies, Noorbakhshies, Bohries etc. Although now, the majority of population is Ismaili-Muslims but the rich culture of Hunza unveiled assorted and exclusive taste through traditional dresses, jewelry, cuisine, rituals and crafts.