People and Tribes of Himachal Pradesh | Himachal General Knowledge | Himachal GK | Himachal Pariksha
In this article we are going to share all Tribes, People and Culture of Himachal Pradesh. if you are interest to knowing about Himachal Pradesh Tribes, People and Culture then stay continue reading to this article.
Discovery of stone implements by anthropologists and archeologists in the Banganga-Beas valley of Kangra, Sirsa - Sultlej valley of Nalagarh - Bilaspur, and Markanda valley of Sirmour, is a fair reason to believe that prehistoric man existed in these regions of Himachal Pradesh. The prominent inhabitants of the Himalayan region which are worth mentioning are:
Ancient Tribes of Himachal Pradesh:
Dasas - Dasas (or Dasyus) were the earliest (Pre - vedic period) known inhabitants of the Shivalik Hills (Himachal Pradesh). They find mention even in the Rigveda. Also known as Kolis, they hold the entire area between the Yamuna and Beas rivers.
Khasas - The Khasas are considered to be second branch of Aryans, who preceed the vedic Aryans in coming to India. They entered Himachal from the northwest and settled themselves from Kashmir to Nepal. Manu, the ancient law maker, recognized Khasas as Kashtriyas. Khasa community, today is distributed in Shimla, Sirmour, parts of Kullu and Kinnaur districts. The majority of Khasa is a peasant and pastoral community.
Kulindas (or Kunindas) - Kulindas were people who lived in the hills area lying between the rivers Beas and Sutlej and the Yamuna also (in present day Sirmour and the Shimla hills) and between Saharanpur and Ambala in the plains areas. They can be identified with the present day Kanets or Kunets. They had a republican form of administration.
Kirats - Kirats were low caste people who lived in the region across Yamuna and Sutlej in lower Shivaliks during the pre -Aryan times. They were a well organised society with a law and order system. They were lived in towns and building the forts.
Kinners or Kinnauris - In the puranic text and account of Hindu mythology, Kinners are described as demigods who existed in the mountainous tracks in the high himalayas, west of mountain Kailash. Presently Kinners are located in the high altitude areas of the Kinnaur district and combines the Hindu traditions and the Lamaistic beliefs of the Buddhism. The look of a Kinnaura people was that of a 'half man and half horse' means the people with 'Ashwamukha' or 'Horse Mouth'. A Kinner girl unable to find a match becomes a Jomo (a Buddhist Nun)
Nagas - Nagas were known as worshipers of serpents living in the Himalyan region. The powerful kings such as Kali, Takshaka and Vasuki established their settlements.
Yakshas - Yakshas having mysterious super human powers known as tree gods, are worshiped as Jakhas by the hill people in the Himalayan region.
Pishachas - They were inhabitants of northwest frontier of Chitral, Gilgit and Kufaristan and were consumers of rawflesh.
Also Read Lakes of Himachal Pradesh By UP EXAM GURU
Modern Castes and Tribes of Himachal Pradesh:
Rajputs - The Rajputs formed the largest part of population in Himachal Pradesh. The major clans of the Rajputs in the State are Rathore, Sen, Katoch, Parmar, Chandel, Bhatti, Gehlot, Chauhan, Patial, Tomar. They have descended from the ruling families founded centuries ago by the adventurer princes from the plains, who were driven by the foreign Muslim invaders. The Rajputs claim superiority over other communities of the region and place itself in the Kashatriya order of the Varna system. They follow the Sanatan Dharma and Worship the Vedic Gods.
Brahmins - The Brahmins, the second largest group, came to Himachal Pradesh from the Indian plains. They may be divided into three groups. The first group claims to be descendents of those Brahmins who accompanied the Rajput rulers from the plains. They are pure Gaur Brahmins and form the chief priestly caste. The second group comprises the Sarswat and Kanyakubj Brahmins. They are collins from the original Brahmin of the Himachal Pradesh State. The third group comprises the agriculturist Brahmins who are looked down upon by those of the higher classes. In Himachal Pradesh Brahmins are found in all the districts except Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.
Girths - Girths or Chowdharys come next in number to Rajputs and Brahmins. They constitute the largest Other Backward Class (OBC) community in the State. They are the most industrious, hard working and successful cultivators. Girths are mainly found in Kangra, Hamirpur, Una and Bilaspur districts.
Gaddies - Gaddies are Collins of the Khatris of Punjab state who are migrated to high hills due to persecution by the Muslims rulers. They reside mainly on the slopes of the Dhauladhaar (mainly Bharmour area of Chamba district). They are semi-nomadic, semi-pastoral and semi-agricultural tribes.
Mahajans - Mahajans also constitute an important community in the Himachal Pradesh. They are locally called Shah or Sahukar, meaning one Who is involved in trading and lending money. This group is mainly confined to towns and are prosperous enterpreneures and service class people. In Himachal Pradesh they are mainly concentated in Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba, Bilaspur and urban centres like Mandi, Kullu, Solan and Shimla.
Soods - Soods are merchants who are known for their dynamism in trading as well as in service and hospitality industry. The word sood was derived from Punjabi word Sud meaning interest acquired on the principal amount by the money lenders. Major concentration of this community is in Kamra district. Besides, they are also found in Shimla, Chamba, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Mandi and Kullu districts.
Gujjars - Gujjars are mostly pastoral and live a purely nomadic life. In Himachal Pradesh Gujjars tribe is both Hindu as well as Muslim Community. Hindu Gujjars, spread over in Mandi, Kangra, Solan and Bilaspur districts and Paonta Shahib tehsil of Sirmour district are supposed to originate from the famous Yadhuvansha to which Lord Krishna belonged. Tha Hindu Gujjars are cultivators and a majority of them are land owners whereas Muslim Gujjars lead a semi-nomadic, semi-agricultural and seml-pastoral life depending on mainly on their herds of buffaloes for livelihoods.
Pangwals - Pangwal is a generic name meaning the people of Pangi, a snowbound valley in the Chamba district. The majority of this scheduled caste community is formed by Rajputs and Brahmins.
Lahaulls - The inhabitants of the Lahaul and Spiti area of the Himachal is a tribe known as Bhots, with physical appearance more akin to the Tibetants.
Swangla - The Swangla is a scheduled tribe, occupying the remote tracks of the Pattan valley along the banks of Chandra-Bhaga river in Lahual Spiti district.
Khampa - Khampa also referred as Gyagar, are believed to be migrants from Tibet. They are scattered in Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts.
Jads - Jads are the Buddhists occupying the area of Chamba and Pangi.
Chamar - The Chamar is the tanner and the leather worker of the hills and in some parts called Mochi. The name Chamar is taken from the Sanskrit word Charmakara or worker in hides.
Lohars - The Lohar, a blacksmith, is one of the village menials, receiving customary dues in the form of a share of the agricultural produce, in return for which he makes and mends all the iron equipments of agriculture.
Sunars - The Sunar is the goldsmith and the Silversmith, and the jeweller of the village. He is also to a large extent a money lender, taking ornaments in pawns and making cash advances upon them.
Dumhas - The Dumna is called Dum in Chamba, is found in large numbers in the submontain regions of Chamba. Kangra and Shimla hills of Himachal Pradesh. He Work on bamboo to make sieves, winnowing pans, fans, mattings, baskets, furniture and other articles made of bamboo.
Kumhars - The Kumhar is a true village menial who makes earthen pots. He receives customary dues in exchange for the supply of earthen Pots at the time of births, deaths, marriages and festivals.
Rathis - The Rathis are essentially an agricultural class and are mostly found in Kangra and Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh. They devoted to agriculture, not unacquinted with the use of arms, and are honest, manly and industrous.
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