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People & Culture Of India |
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Uttranchal |
Garhwal
Garhwal resembles other parts
of the Himalayas where various ethnic groups
live side by side. Following chiefly the
agrarian-pastoral way of life, native Garhwalis
make their living from the hilly land the best
they can. Some, like the Bhotia traders, migrate
far and wide, although the ancient trade routes
with Tibet have been closed since 1950. Most of
the indigenous people like Jaunsari, Bhotia,
Buksha, Tharu, and Raji are heterodox Hindus and
Buddhists, while Sikh migrants from West Punjab
have settled in the lowlands since 1947. A few
Muslim groups are also native to the area,
although most of them have settled recently. The
Muslim Gujjar herders also migrate to the hills.
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Kumaon
The inhabitants of the Kumaon
hills are commonly known as the Kumaonese. They
belong to a predominantly patriarchal society,
which recognizes the superiority of men over
women. The social structure is based on the
extended family system, the eldest male member
being the head of the family. Women are
respected in society but they usually confine
themselves to household activities. No religious
ceremony is considered complete without the wife
joining the husband. Women also work in the
fields and forests alongside the men. In Kumaon,
bigamy or polygamy has religious sanctions but
polyandry is prohibited. Widow marriage and
re-marriage by divorced women is permitted
except in certain sections of high-caste
Brahmins and Rajputs. Child marriage is still
practiced in all classes of society despite
legal restrictions on it. It has all but
disappeared from the educated society.
The peace and tranquility of Uttaranchal laid
the foundation for a treasure house of paintings
and art. Out of the two major art forms, the art
of stone carving and woodcarving are fairly well
known. The art of stone carving gradually died
down, but woodcarving continued. Woodcarving
could be seen on almost every door of a Garhwali
house until only half a century ago. Woodcarving
can still be seen in hundreds of temple all over
Garhwal. The remains of architectural work have
been found at the Chandpur Fort, temple of
Srinagar, Pandukeshwar (near Badrinath), Devi
Madin (near Joshimath), and Devalgarh Temple.
The Himalayas have inspired generations of
singers, balladeers, and musicians throughout
the ages. The natural beauty of the
mountains-which inspires a deep spirituality-and
the harshness of life-which darkens the heart
with adversity and anguish-have invigorated
Uttarakhandi music, heightening its poignancy
and enriching its lyrical texture. Although,
increasingly influenced by trends in Hindi film
music (with Garhwali songs set to film-style
music), the more traditional forms of Himalayan
music have remained deeply popular. This has
been especially true of the Pahari penchant for
folksy values, biting humor, raw honesty, loving
devotion, and soaring spirits that shines
through each song. Indeed, in face of other
homogenizing trends in India , Uttarakhandi
music has distinguished itself in retaining its
cultural uniqueness and vibrant sound, while
remaining popular among the masses. Major dance
forms of the region are Langvir Nritya, Barada
Nati folk dance, Pandava Nritya, Dhurang, and
Dhuring. The people of Garhwal wear a wide
variety of dresses.
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Upper Garhwal
This zone consists of the
tracts lying above an elevation of about 2300
mts. and extends to the upper limit of human
habitation. The upper reaches of Garhwal are
inhabited by tribes such as the Bhotias and
Gujars. The cold season is very severe and heavy
snowfall is received in this tract. The Bhotias
wear clothes made of goat/sheep wool which is
locally woven by them. The menfolk wear loose
trousers over which they put on a loose gown,
girt around the waist with a woollen cloth
called patta and a cap of wool on the head. A
loose undergarment of wool is worn by the women
instead of trousers. The upper garments resemble
those of men. The womenfolk also put on woollen
skirts with a white woollen waist coat. Woollen
clothes are rarely washed and the clothes are
worn till the end of their useful lives. Clothes
made of cotton are not worn. Nowadays, in large
Villages, one may come across people wearing
synthetic trousers, shirts and coats.
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Middle Garhwal
This zone covers the middle
hills of Garhwal between elevations of 1000 and
2300 mts. Wool, hemp and cotton are used for
clothing in the middle valleys of the rivers
Alaknanda, Bhagirathi and Yamuna. The males put
on close fitting trousers and a buttoned up long
coat or achkan. They may sport a Gandhi cap on
their heads. The women- folk put on a long skirt
or ghaghrai; a type of blouse, and a scarf like
cloth is tied around their heads. The grazer
communities of middle Garhwal put on a type of
sleeveless unstitched gown that extends to just
below the knee. It is made of goat wool. In the
recent past, clothes like shirts, trousers and
coats have been adopted by men. The sari and
blouse, or the pyjama and kurta suits are now
being worn by women in the urban and semi-urban
centres of Garhwal.
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Lower Garhwal
This zone includes all areas
below an elevation of about 1000 mts. Lower
Garhwal is relatively more developed and the
people have adopted dresses worn in the plains
and western countries. The men-folk put on
shirts, trousers, coats, bush-shirts, and safari
suits. The women wear the sari and blouse, as
also pyjama-kurta suits. The impact of western
dresses is more in this zone. The younger
generation has taken to jeans and other western
clothes in a big way. |
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