¤ The People

The population of HP consists of a medley of tribes, all speaking their own language. Some of them are the Gaddis, Gujjars, Kinnauris, Lahulis and Pangwalis. The majority of the people are of Aryan stock, with exceptions like the inhabitants of Lahaul and Spiti who are distinctly of Mongol origin. Perhaps the most exotic among them are the Kinnauris, known for their extraordinary beauty and ornate jewellery.

¤ The Earliest Inhabitants

Before the coming of the Khasha Aryans were the Kols and Mundas. These people are represented by the various scheduled castes like the Kolis, Halis, Chamars, Darains, Rehars, Chanals, Lohars, Baris, Dagis, Dhakis or Turis, and form a considerable part of the population.

The great social fusion over the centuries, a process which is still going on, has resulted in many changes in the appearance and characteristics of these people. As such, like the rest of Northern India, they are ascribed to Aryan blood by mainstream historians.

¤ People Had A Simple Living

HP is the least urbanized of states in India, and so there’s an ‘untouched’ simplicity about its inhabitants. Living in a world of their own, the people are sometimes quite unaware of what’s happening in the rest of the country.
Their whole life seems to revolve around high peaks, near-accessible passes, rivers and deep valleys. All this makes for people who are essentially simple, honest, god-fearing and firmly rooted in the bedrock of the past. Ninety percent of the people live in distant ‘fairy tale’ villages and small towns, and depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Many also rear sheep, goats, and other cattle.

The traditional village house of Himachal has a rather interesting structure. The lowest storey is for household cattle, the middle for storing grain (also doubles as sleeping room for the family in winter) and the top floor or dafi forms the living area.

¤ The Gaddis of Chamba

The Gaddis are shepherds who move their flocks of sheep (which may range from a couple of hundred to a thousand in number!) from lower pastures in winter to higher ones after snowmelt. Interestingly, the Gaddis are only found scattered around the Dhauladhars. They call this area Gadheran or the land of the Gaddis. To them the Dhauladhars are not just a mountain range but like their mother.

The Gaddis move freely between Chamba and Kangra when the passes of the Dhauladhar allow them to do so. In winter they move down south and can be seen around Kangra, Mandi and Bilaspur and in the small villages between Baijnath and Palampur. Marriages between people living on opposite sides of the Dhauladhar are common.

A typical song of a bride living in her in-laws’ house on the other side runs thus

Oh Mother Dhauladhar
Bend a little
O bend a little
On this side lies my mother-in-law’s place
On the other side lies my father’s place
Bend yourself a little
Bend a little
O bend a little.