COUNTRYSIDE AND TRADITIONS

The majority of the Tajik population, including the Fann mountain region, live in kishlaks (a type of rural settlement). Kishlaks in the mountains differ substantially from those of the plains. Kishlaks in the plains are large (200-700 households), while the mountainous ones, lying in narrow valleys or on slopes, are smaller and do not consist of more than 15-20 households. Many houses in the kishlaks on the slopes of the Fann mountains are located one above the other, and due to the lack of land, the roof of the lower building is used as the yard of the upper house. Due to the lack of good timber, roofs are flat, also high sloping roofs are not necessary here because of low precipitation.
Quite typical for the Fann mountains in summer are numerous seasonal shepherds' camps, grazing sheep and goats on the high meadows. Tajiks are very hospitable and often treat tourists to tea, home-made bread and dairy produce.
The inhabitants of Kishlaks, particularly in the mountainous regions, have retained folk clothes. Female costumes consists of long, white or colored cotton or silk, dresses and wide trousers tied at the ankles. They often wear tubeteika (small hats) and large white muslin or silk scarves. They decorate themselves with beads and coin and coral necklaces. The men's costume usually consists of a shirt, wide trousers, robe, waist-scarf and tubeteika. Tajik families are usually big and 5-6 children in the family are quite normal.
Local diet is traditional. Bread is made as flat cakes and is served with shurpo (meat soup), pasta and sour milk. The favourite meal is plov, this consists of rice, meat and vegetables cooked in vegetable oil or sheep fat. The main drink is green tea. Dry fruit, sweets and bread are served with tea.
Be very careful when taking photographs - some locals find this very offensive or intrusive, particularly the women.