Baltis

པའལཏི
Balti children photographed in Tarishing, Gilgit−Baltistan in September 2008
Total population
c. 438,800[1]
Regions with significant populations
Gilgit−Baltistan, Pakistan Ladakh, India[2]
Languages
Balti, Urdu
Religion
Islam (predominantly Shia Islam,[3] small minorities of Noorbakshia Sufi Islam and Sunni Islam in Pakistan and India[4])
Related ethnic groups
Purigpas, Ladakhis, Tibetans, Dards

The Balti people or Baltis (Balti: པའལཏི) are an ethnic group of Tibetan descent who are native to the Pakistani-administered Baltistan division of Gilgit−Baltistan. They are also found in the Indian-administered territory of Ladakh, predominantly in the Kargil district with smaller concentrations present in the Leh district. Outside of the Kashmir region, Baltis are scattered throughout Pakistan, with the majority of the diaspora inhabiting prominent urban centres such as Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Origin

The origin of the name Balti is unknown.^[5] The first written mention of the Balti people occurs in the 2nd century BCE by the Alexandrian astronomer and geographer Ptolemy, who refers to the region as Byaltae.^[6] The Balti people themselves refer to their native land as Balti-yul (transl. 'Land of Baltis'); the modern name of Baltistan is the Persian rendering of this name.^[7]

Language

The Balti language belongs to the Tibetic language family. Read (1934) considers it to be a dialect of Ladakhi,^[8] while Nicolas Tournadre (2005) instead considers it to be a sister language of Ladakhi.^[9]

Religion

Bön and Tibetan Buddhism were the dominant religions practiced by the Balti people until the arrival of Islam in Baltistan by the 14th century CE, predominantly through Sufi missionaries such as Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. The Noorbakshia Sufi sect further propagated the Islamic faith in the region, and most of the Balti people had converted to Islam by the end of the 17th century.^[10] Over time, a significant number of Baltis converted to Shia Islam, while a few converted to Sunni Islam.

The Baltis still retain many cultural traits of pre-Islamic Bön and Tibetan Buddhist rituals within their society, making them a unique demographic in Pakistan.^[11] The Balti language remains highly archaic and conservative, closer to Classical Tibetan than other Tibetan languages.

Baltis see congregation in mosques and Sufi Khanqahs as an important religious ritual. Khanqahs are training schools introduced by early Sufi saints who arrived in the region. The students gain spiritual purity (tazkiah) through this training (meditations and contemplations) under well-practiced spiritual guides who have already attained a certain degree of spirituality.^{[further explanation needed]}

Mosques in Baltistan are predominantly built in the Tibetan style of architecture, though several mosques have wood-finishings and decorations in the Mughal style, which is also seen in the Kargil district of Indian-administered Ladakh, across the Line of Control.

Demographics

In Pakistan

There are 425,000 Baltis in Pakistan^[12],around 60% of Baltis are Shia Muslims, while some 30% practice Noorbakshia Sufi Islam, and 10% are Sunni Muslims.^[13][10]

In India

Balti population in India is around 13,800 individuals, 97% of Baltis in India are Muslims and 3% of Baltis are Buddhists.^[14]

^[15]

Cuisine

The traditional food of Baltistan includes a number of unique dishes, Balti dishes are usually not spicy and are similar to Tibetan and Central asian cuisine's, Here is a list of few traditional balti dishes from Baltistan, Pakistan.^[16][17]

Tras Balay

Also known as simply balay or Balti noodles, It is a made up of thick soup with handmade noodles and chunks of goat meat flavoured with Himalayan herbs that increase its flavour.

Mantu

Mantu also known as Mamtu (Dumplings) is a steam boiled dish, consisting of chopped meat (Beef or lamb) with onions ands vegetables all mixed together with spices and Himalayan herbs wrapped in dough and steamed for several hours.