Himachal Pradesh: Tribes

Himachal Pradesh is a well-known hill station in India that is considered as a tourism hotspot due to its diverse cultures and exceptional weather. There are numerous places to visit, ranging from breathtaking plains to snow-capped mountain ranges. However, the most astounding characteristic of this location is the popular Himachal Pradesh tribes, which provide ethnic significance to the entire province. There’s a lot more to Himachal’s tribal villages that will astound anyone who discovers them. As a result, here is a shortlist of ten well-known Himachal Pradesh tribes in India that you should be familiar with.

Himachal Pradesh’s Seven Major Tribes

Kinnaur Tribe, Gujjar Tribe, Lahauli Tribe, Gaddi Tribe, Swangla Tribe, Pangwal, and Khampa Tribes.

Tribe of Kinnauras

Kinnar is a blend of the Sanskrit words Kim and Nara, which imply ‘what kind of man?’ derived from traditions of a mythological being with a human body and a horse’s head, or vice versa Kinnaur is another district in Himachal Pradesh in which these tribal tribes are concentrated. Kinnauri tribes in Himachal Pradesh are thought to be the descendants of the Kinners of Vedic times. They are based on cultural dances that are also performed in the National Capital on Independence Day. Their fundamental signatures of Kinnauri traditional garments are the ‘Dohru’ stall and the Bushehri Topi. The Tibetan accent has an impact on their ethnic language. The majority of this tribal group in Himachal Pradesh practise Buddhism or Hinduism as their religion.

The Gujjar Tribe

The Gujjar Tribes are the individuals of west Himachal Pradesh. Particularly from the districts of Chamba and Kangra. Originally, the Gujjar tribes of Himachal Pradesh led nomadic lives, moving with their cattle and other belongings. However, they are currently established in grasslands or hills depending on the favorable seasons. Historically, the Gujjar tribes were known as the plains immigrants who fled to the hills in response to the Huna invasion.

Tribe of Lahauli

Lahauli Tribes are indigenous to Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul region, as the name denotes. They are thought to be the descendants of Mongoloids. Agriculture, herding, and weaving are the mainstays of their existence. Their brilliant, multicolored woven goods will wow you. This is one of the most well-known tribes in Himachal, with a unique Milliseconds system in households.

The system was efficient at first, but it is gradually becoming obsolete as modernization knocks on its doors. Their society was organized into clans such as Gotra and Kul. Tribal individuals of various clans were permitted to marry, but those of the same clan were not permitted to do so because they would be considered members of the same family. The Lahaul Tribes are well-known throughout the country for their potato output.

The Gaddi Tribe

Gaddi Tribes are primarily found in Himachal Pradesh’s Dhauladhar region. This tribal tribe is mostly concentrated on the river’s banks in Ravi and Budhil. The Gaddi tribes of Himachal Pradesh are described as Mughal-era immigrants who escaped to the hills. They encompass all types of Hindus and have a caste structure.

Swangla Tribes

Swangla tribes are modern scheduled tribes of Himachal who live in the City and nearby Valley along the Chandra Bhaga river. They primarily speak Manchhad languages. They were thought to live in the most northern reaches of Himalayan tracts.

Pangwal Tribes

Pangwals are thought to be Pangi Valley dwellers. Every home in this town owns a ‘Choori,’ which is a hybrid between a yak and a cow. Their largest event, ‘Tyane,’ is held in August. ‘Hishoo’ is their new year’s day, which is celebrated with intense excitement and many extended night traditional dances. They now have one of the contentious practices of marriage by capture, which is mostly practiced in this tribal community’s Pith or Chori systems. 

Khampa Tribes

Himachal Pradesh’s Khampa tribes migrated from Tibet. They settled in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, and Lahaul districts. Gradually, each region has its own phrase to describe Himachal Pradesh’s tribal communities. They are called ‘Bauddh’ in Kullu valley. They are known as ‘Piti Khampa’ in the Spiti division. They go by different names in different parts of the world, but their unusual facial features set them apart.

Bodh Tribes Of Himachal Pradesh

The Bodh people, commonly called Khas Bodhi, are indeed a Himachal Pradesh ethnic group. They can be found in the Lahaul and Spiti area, primarily in the and, but also, to a lesser extent, in the Miyar Valley, the higher reaches of Pangi in Himachal Pradesh, and the Paddar valley in Jammu and Kashmir. Their religion is mostly Buddhist, with atavistic and Shaivite rituals thrown in for good measure. Although caste regulations are not as strict as in the plains, they are designated as Rajput, Thakur, or Kshetri. Historically, the rulers of Chamba, Kullu, or Ladakh bestowed the titles of Rana, Wazir, or Thakur on three or four notable families in the area for the purposes of overall management and revenue collection.

Conclusion

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The Tribal Development Department was established in 1976 with the goal of focusing on the social and economic upliftment of society’s most disadvantaged class, the Scheduled Tribes. Five Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDP) have been launched on the ground in Himachal Pradesh’s Scheduled Areas. Himachal Pradesh’s major tribes are the Kinnauras, Gujjars, Gaddis, Kinnaras or and Pangwalas.