CENSUS OF INDIA 196 I VOLUME XX-PART V 1- N O. 23
HIMACHAL PRADESH
A Village Survey of DABHLA DAR.
Ghamarwin Tehsil, Bllaspur District
In"estigation and Draft Guidance ond Final Droft by by TARLOK CHAND SUD RI KH I RAM SHARMA Assistant Superintendent of Census 01' e ratiol!' Himachal Pradesh
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THE PEOPLE AND THEm MATERIAL EQUIPMENT Caste Compositi6n-Language-House~-Dress-Omaments-TattoD i'fl,g-Utensils-Household Goods-Food and Drinks-Birth-Marriage -Death Rites. 3. ECONOMY Workers and Non-workers-AgricuUure-Principal Crops-Fertili zers and Manure-Agriculture Calendar-Animal Husbo.ndry-Ho'lllSe hold Industries-Income Statistics-Expenditure-Indebtedness-Co operative Society. 4. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 36 Marital Status-Lite1'ucy-Family Structure-Inter-family relations -Position of Women-Inheritance of Prope1·ty-Sanitation and Health-Leisure and Recreation-Fairs and Festivals-Songs-Popu lar Sayings· -Superstitions-Folk TaLes-SaLutations-The Concept of Untouchability-Community Development. 5. CONCLUSION 57 APPENDICES ApPENDIX I-The foundation of State of Bilaspur 59 ApPENDIX II-Death ceremonies of the Hill Rajas 60 ApPENDIX III-Dialect 61 ApPENDIX IV-Land Utilization of Dabhla Dari 62 ApPENDIX V -Weights and Measures 63 ApPENDIX VI-Gugga Fair of Ghamarwin 64 ApPENDIX VII-Flora and Fauna 68 ApPENDIX VIII-Glossary 73; Foreword Apart from laying the foundations of would be brought to bear on the inter-preta demography in this subcontinent, a hundred tion of statistics to find out how much of a years of the Indian Census has also produc village was static and yet changing and how ed 'elaborate and scholarly accounts of the fast the winds of change were blowing and variegated phenomena of Indian life some from where. times with no statistics attached, but usually with j"!1st enough statistics to give emprical Randomness of selection was, therefore, eschewed. There was no intention to build under-pinning to their conclusions'. In a coun up a picture for the whole State in quantita try, largely illiterate, where statistical' or tive terms on the basis of vlllage selected numerical comprehension of even such a statistically at random. The selection was simple thing as age was liable to be inaccu avowedly purposive: the object being as rate, an understa:nding of the social structure much to find 01.1:t what was happening and was essential. It was more necessary to attain how fast to those villages which had fewer a broad understanding of what was happen reasons to choose change and more to re ing around oneself than to wrap oneself up in main lodged in the past as to discover how 'statistical ingenuity' or 'mathematical mani the more 'normal' types of villages were pulation'. This explains why the Indian Cen chan.ging. !hey were to be primarily type sus came to be interested in 'many by-paths studIes whlCh, by virtue of their number and and merely every branch of scholarship~ distribution, would also give the reader a from anthropology and sociology to geogra 'feel' of what was going on and some kind of phy and religion'. a map of the country. In the last few decades the Cens\ls has A brief account of the tests of selection increasingly turned its efforts to the presen- . will ~elp to explain. A minimum of thirty tation of village statistics. This suits the five VIllages was to be chosen with great temper of the times as well as our politica,l care to. represent adequately geographical, and economic structure. For even as we have oc~upa~I~nal and even ethnic diversity. Of a great deal of centralization on the one hand thIS mmImum of thirty-five, the distribution and decentraliza!tion on the other, my col was to be as follows: leagues thought it would be a welcome con tinuation of the Census tradition to try to (a) At least eight villages were to b~ so invest the dry bones of village statistics with selected that each of them would contain one flesh-and-blood accounts of social structure dominant community with one predominat and social change. It was accordingly decid ing occupation, e.g., fishermen, forest wor- ed to select a few villages in every State for kers, jhum cultivators, potters, weavers, salt special study, where personal obsex:vation makers, qualJ'Y workers etc. A village should ii FOREWORD have a minimum population of 400, the opti ·scope. At the first Census Conference in Sep mum being between 500 and 700. tember 1959 the Survey set itself the task of (b) At least seven villages were to be of what might be called a record in situ of numerically prominent Scheduled Tribes of material traits, like settlement patterns of the the State. Each village could represent a village; house types; diet; dl;ess; ornaments particular tribe. The minimum population and foot-wear; furniture and storing vessels;, should be 400, the optimum being between I common means of transport of goods and 500 and 700. .. passengers; domestication of animals and (c) The third group of villages should each birds; markets attended; worship of deities; be of fair size, of an old and settled charac festivals and fairs. There were to be record ter and contain variegated occupations and ill1gs., of course of cultural and social traits be, if possible, multi-ethnic in composition. and occupational mobility. This was followed By fair size was meant a population of 500- up in March 1960 by two specimen schedu 700 persons or more. The village should .les, one for each household, the other for the mainly depend on agriculture and be suffi village as a whole, which, ~part from spel ciently away from the major sources of ling out the mode of inquiry suggested modern communication such as the district in the September 1959' conference, intro administrative headquarters and business duced groups of questions aimed at centres. It should be roughly a day's journey sensing changes in attitude and be from the above places. The villages were to haviour in such fields as marriage, in be selected with an eye to variation in heritance, movable and immovable pro terms· of size, proximity to city and other perty, industry, indebtedness, education, means of modern communicatia.n, nearness community life, and collective activity, social to hills, jungles and major rivers. Thus there disabilities forums of appeal over disputes, was to be a regional distribution throughout village leadership, and organisation of cul the State of thisl category of villages. If., how turallife. It was now plainly the intention to ever, a particular district con.tained signifi provide adequate statistical support to empir cant e:cological variations within its area, ical 'feel' to approach qualitative change more than one village in the district might be through statistical quantities. It had been selected to study the special adjustments to difficult to give thought to the importance of them. just enough statistios to give empirical un It is a unique feature of these village sur derpinning to conclusion', at a time when my veys that ~hey rapidly outgrew their original colleagues were straining themselves to. the terms of reference, as my colleagues warmed utmost for the success of the main Census up to their work. This proved for them an operations, but once the census count itself absorbing voyage of discovery and their in was left behind in March, 1961, a series of fectious enthusiasm :compelle,d me to en three r-egional seminars in Trivandrum (May large the inquiry's scope again and again. It 1961), Darjeeling and Srinagar (June 1961) was just as well cautiously to feel one's way restored their attention to this 'field and the about at first and then venture further afield, importance ,of tracing social change through and although it accounts to some extent for a number of well-devised statistical tables a certain unevenness in the quality and . was once again recognised. This itself pre- coverage of the monographs, it served to supposed a fresh survey of villages alrea,dy compensate the purely honorary and extra done; but it was worth the trouble in view mural rigours of the task. For, tbe Survey, of the possibilities that a close analysis of along with its many ancillaries like the sur statistics offered, and also because the 'con vey of fairs and festivals, of small and rural sanguinity! schedule remained to be canvas industry and otherS, was an 'extra', over and sed. By November 1961, however, more was above the crushing 'load of the 1961 Census. expected of these surveys than ever before. It might be of interest to recount briefly There was dissatisfaction on the one hand; the stages by which the Survey enlarged its with too many general statements and a I'OREWORD . iii growing desire on the other to draw conclu adopting as many villages as they had origi sions from statistics, to regard social and eco nally intended to. But I believe that what nomic data as inter-related processes, and may have been lost in quantity has been finally to examine the social and economic more than made up for in quality. This is, proc'2sses, set in motion through land re perhaps, for the first time that such a Survey forms and other laws, legislative and admi has been conducted in any country, and that nistrative measures, technological and cultu purely as a labour of love. It has succeeded ral change, Finally, a study camp was orga in attaining what it set out to achieve; to nised in the last week of December, 1961 construct a map of village India's social when the whole field ·was car~fully gon.e structure. One hopes that the volumes of through over again and a programme work this Survey will help to retain for the Indian ed out closely knitting the various aims of Census its title to 'the most fruitful single the Survey tpgether. The SOCIal Studies Sec source of-ififormation about the country'. tion of the Census Commission rendered as Apart from other features, it will perhaps sistance to State Su~rintendents by way of be conceded that the Survey has set up a scrutiny and technical comment on the new Census standard in pictorial and graphic frame of Survey and presentation of results. documentation. The schedules finally adopt This gradual unfolding of the aims of ed for this monograph have been printed in the Survey prevented my coll~agues from an appendix. (New Delhi) ASOK MITRA J uly 30~ 1964 Registrar General, India (ivJ . PREFACE With a population of 433 persons Dabhla and Dari are two adjoining villages in Tehsil Ghaman"lin of District Bilaspur. For the purpose of the survey these were taken as one unit keeping in view the character istics set-forth for these studies. At a distance of 4 miles from Ghamar win the village is influenced by modern trends of changes and will give an idea about the customs and changes that have taken place. Dabhla and Dari is a medium sized multi-caste village. It is not a matter of far distant past that Dabhla and Dari was difficult of approach and people had to walk long distances whenever they were required to visit towns. But they are now in advantageous position from the com munication and transport facilities point of view. With 98 households it is inhabited by as many as 8 castes predominant being the Brahmins. Their occupations, interdependence and social intermingling are the ,important .factors which would reveal the working system of the rural society. The interdependence of the Scheduled Castes on the so called higher castes has undergone many changes during the recent past with the launching of the development plans the villagers found opportunities at their door as a result of which some of them improved their living ~onditions. Better housing, better transport, better education and medical facilities are more significant about which the villagers find changes. No appreciable change is expected in agriculture, but fresh avenues of employment nearer their homes have proved helpful to them. I would like to convey my gratitude to those who rendered useful cooperation in bringing out this monograph. I hope this little piece of work like others will come up to the expectations of the lovers of the census organisation. RAM CHANDRA PAL SINGH LJ(N)2SCOHP-2 I. The Village Introduction killed the new born. Thus Vishwamitra kill ed six sons of Vashisht. Dabhla .and Dari are two adjoining villa ges at a height of 2,300 feet and about four Yashisht's wHe was expecting her seventh miles from Ghamarwin, .the Tehsil headquar chIld when Nard Muni the proverbial trou ters. These were selected for survey because ble shooter in Hindu mythology visited his these are medium sized villages with a popu house and said, "Please think of your past lation of 433 persons having an agricultural and the present". In the near future when bias. During the last 15 years the cpanges your wife will deliver a child Vishwamitra that have occurred here are in the form of is sure to pay a visit. In case you call the merger of the Bilaspur State to form a him Raj!'ishi it is certain that out of anger he district of Himachal Pradesh. An all weather would kill your son. Welcome him as Braham motor road to Ghamarwin from Bilaspur Rishi instead of Rajrishi. Vashisht agreed. with the highest bridge in India over Sutlej After sometime a son was born. Vishwa at Kandraur have made the village easily ac mitra came as usual. This time he was wel .cessible. comed as Braham Rishi. He was pleased and prayed for the long life of the new born. These villages are inhabited by Brahmins, This son was named Santo Later on two Chamars and Daolas who besides agriculture other children were named Sunandan, and are engaged in floating timber or ghals and Basa~t K~mar. ,:£,he family lived at a place .are a Scheduled Caste. now-ldentJfied WIth Lucknow in Uttar Pra desh. Legend Sant had three sons Tooarsia, Banarsia and Sangarsia. Due to unlmown reasons these According to a belief, tlie Brahmins were brothers decided to leave Lucknow and set the first sett~ers of Dabhla. They are suppos out to find a J).€W abode. After roaming about ed to be the descenaants of Rishi Vashisht, four months they reached Kathalag, a vil a great saint in Treta Yuga i.e. in the Rama lage five miles from Dabhla. yana-age. He was the Raj Guru of Rama. the hero of Ramayana. His main contemporary 1'ooarsia migrated further. He settled at was Vishwamitra who was a Kshatrya by Dabhla. Banarsia went to Kothi. 'Caste, but had taken to austerities. Vishwa mitra used to be called Rajrishi by Vishisht The word Dabhla begins with 'Da' which Mum who was himself a Brahmin. This means fire in the-local dialect. It is told that form of welcome was not liked by Vishwa the village site was a dense forest. Seven mitra who aspired to be called as Braham times it was gutted. So the place was named Rishi. Rishi Vashisht refused to do so saying Dabhla or a place of fire. that so long Vishwamitra could not con Brahmins style themselves as Saraswat trol his anger he could not be called Braham Rishi. As such whenever Vashisht Muni's Kathialoo Brahmins. The word Kathialoo wife gave birth to a son he used to go to his means a resident of Kathalag. Tnis indicates house. He was always welcomed as Rajrishi. that their fore·fathers may have migrated On this Vishwa'l11itra used to get angry and from Kathalag. In Dad no one knows who 2 'l'HE VILLAGE- were the first settlers and from where they Climate migrated. Daru means wild pomegranate. According to the elders of Dari this locality October to February may be taken as the derived its name from wild pomegranate. autumn and winter seasons. During this According to custom the fields and localities period sometimes the temperature falls to, are given names after the trees that stand freezing point. During the months of Decem there. Only one other-household belonging to ~er and January a few inches of rain-fall a different community came to reside here 1s also receved. Along the course of Seer about eight years ago. Khad thick fog prevails during thiS! period. Situation and extent From mid April to about the middle of The villagesl are bounded by Glassin, June is the hot weather. This can easily be Gatol and G.ehri Panzel from one side and called the draught period. In most of the Morsingi on the other. The Lendi Cho flows areas there is scarcity of water even for in the west and separates Dabhla-Dari from 4_ouosehold use. Terriperat~re shoots upto' Kashole. KaryaL Cho separates Dabhla from 11~ F and dust storms of hIgh velocity are Glassin in the east. Lendi cho divides Dabhla qUIte common and usually they are there in into two portions. The eastern sector of Bag the afternoon. hal and Neri Plangaries is predominated by Chamars while the western part is possessed FroI?- the middle of June till September is by Brahmins, Seer Khad toucheS! the sou the ramy season. A greater 'part of the an-· thern fringes of Dabhla. nual rainfall is received during these months. Physical Aspects The climate on the whole is sub-tropical in According to the revenue papers Dabhla the valleys and lower ranges. has an area of 288 acres while Dari has 138 acres. Out of the total land of 426 acres 193 Fauna acres are under the plough. The remaining - area covered with grazing lands and ravi Thel common birds selm are: nes. Papeeha (Sparrow hawk). Cultivated fields are found in different tracts. The population lives in the cultivable· Titter (Partridge). area. From a hill top at Glassin, Dal,lhlt;!. Crows, Sparrows, Kites, Vultures. seems to have been divided into thr~e natural, parts by rivulets. Each part looks like a _sepa~ The wild animals often seen are:- rate settlement. The main village is inhaBit Banbilla. ed_ by Brahmins. Daolasl live at their gharats Barasingha along the Seer Khad. In the third part Gidder Chamars are in a majority. Goh No. of Population Kakkar AN~WI>Creti house· _, Mangoo (Naul) holds 'Persons l\fales Females 1 2 3 4 5 Sailee (Porcupine~ DaLhla • 65 307 125 183 Sehtu (Rabbit) l'1U1 138 126 54 72 Soor (Wild bear). Size-Dabhla consists of seven hamlets or Domestic arnmals- paJangaries, some of these palangaries have been named to denote a particular group of Buffaloes, oxen, cows, dogs, goats, sheep,. fields while others are inhabited. Dari has no and cats are the domestic animals. palangart. Snakes are found here during summer and Beghal palangaries is inhabited by Cha monsoon. The common types are 'phaniaT' mars and Kolies and a Brahmin shopkeeper. khadpa, Soter, Laman, Lalrangeekeera and Neri Palangari has two households of a Hesi deena. A phaniar may be eight feet long. and a Jat. Surar has three Daola Households. with broad hood. Cobra is called khp,dpa.;. At Jarol there is one Brahmin family. At A khadpa may be five feet long. Soter snake Lerah there are two families of Brahmins. is also dangerous. Lalrangee and deena sna At Belh and Gor there is no habitation. Out kes are not so poisonous. Their victims may of these palangaries Beghal is the biggest be cured by faith curers. Lizards are seen in and lies between Karial and Lendi Chos. houses and on rocks. Squirrels are all over. 'mE VILLAGE 3 Geology Two or more soil types that differ in sur f~ce text~re but are otherwise similar in According to the Report No. 53 of the Cen kmd, thIckness and arrangement of soil tral Soil Conservation Board, the area be lay.ers are normally designated as a soil longs to the Middle Shiwalik System. The senes. main geological formations are sand stones and shales. They occur in close proximity with each other and are at places intermix Roads and CoItUnunications ed. Sometimes they appear in the same cut . Roads-T.he motor roads pass three miles where they lie over and above the other m the eastern direction and five mHes at The sand stones near village Kothi and norttl south~rn sid~. The nearest bus terminus for of it are more compact and hard. The shales t~e vl11.age IS Ghamarwin from where the are soft and vary in colour from pink and VIllage IS a~proached by a foot path. It takes yellow to grey. about 45 mmutes to reach the village. Some years ago mules were kept by villagers. Due Both the sand stones as well as the shales to cheap transport system through buses no are without lime as they do not give efferve mules are kept now. Before expansion of scence with dil HCl. motor transport the beasts of burden were mules, donkeys and camels. They were kept by these who belonged to the districts of According to the same report the rock Ambala and Hoshiarpur and used to bring weathering is brought about mainly by the gur, shakkar, salt. and other articles. physical agents especially by the tempera ture. The chemical weathering processes are Po~t C!f}ice-The nearest post office is at not so active as most of the rain water does Morsmgl. The postman visits these villages not get sufficient time to come in contact on alternate .days. Very often persons going with the rocks and is drained away. Most of to Ghamarwm and Kothi take letters with the rainfall is obtained only during the rainy them to. be. posted. there. The villagers going season i.e. July, August and September and to Morsmgl may mquire: about their dak in for the rest of the year the precipitation the post office which is under the charge of a received is insignificant from the point of school teacher. view of rock weathering (page 2). . Market-Ghamarwin is the main market mg centre for these villagers. There are a Soil with particular reference to Soil few shops in D~bhla also. People prefer to erosion-The villages lie in Bhakra Catch take ~mly small or emergent purchases in ment area and fan under Seer Khad catch the VIllage du~ to comparatively higher cost. ment. According to report No. 53 "The basis People of Dan may also go to Morsingi and of the characteristics observed by the surve Kasol villages. yor and confirmed by laboratory tests soils are classified into series, types and phases. The soil type is the basic maping unit and Cremation ground-It is held that the best may consist of several phases and such types place for cremating dead bodies is where that resemble each other in most of their there is a confluence of three streams or ra characteristics except texture of surface vines. So the people mostly cremate the dead horizon and ground into the same soil series. on the side of the Seer Khad where waters of twO' other khads join. Some people of Dati aLd other villagesl may cremate their dead Soils having the same texture in the 'sur along the ravines nearer to them. According face layer and similar in kind thickness and to a tradition cr~mation only takes place arrangement of soil layers are classified as where there is flowing water near about. No one soil type. particular or specified place has been fixed for any particular caste for cremation. Because of differences other than these of kind, thickness and arrangement of layer, Other important places some soil types are divided into two or more phases, slope variations, rock out crops, At Ghamarwin there are the Tehsil Office degree of erosion depth of soil over the sub School, eating houses, shops and private doc': stratum or natural drainage are examples of tors. Here a number of institutions are locat characteristics that suggest dividing a soil ed. We give a table showing important places type into phases. here and the villages near about. THE VILLAGE Table showing institutions and temples located in Dabhla-Dari and Neighburing Villages I,oration I ustitutions Tamplee and places Buildings CraftsI Indllstries of worship Dabhla·Dari Durga Thai at Panchayat Ghar Weaving, oil crushing and DabWa leather work. GIIl.66in 1. Government Tailoring Centre Gral1lsewak hut Basketary ware and Blaok· (l:mile) 2. Patwar Khana • • • smithy. Kotbi • 1. Key Village Centre • 'rhakur's Temple Pottery, Basketary ware and (3 miles) 2. Dabhla Co·operative Society Blacksmithy. 3. Branch Post Office. 4. Primary Sohool. Qhamarwin 1. Veterinary Hospital CUIll Key Village (6 miles) Centre. 2. Court of the Tehsildar. 3. Block Development Office . Temple P.W.D. Res~ Blaoksmithy, Silversmithy 4. Govt. Basketary Centre. House. and Basketal'Y ware. 0. Information Centre. 6. Post and Telegraph, Office. 7. Govt. Higher Secondary School 8. Public Health Centre 9. Family Planning Centre 10. Police Station 11. Govt. Weaving and Demonstration Centre. 12. Booking Office, Himaohal Pradesh Government Transport. 13. Sub·Divisional Office, P.W.D. MOl'llingi 1. Post Office • (1 mile) 2. Primao/ School. 2. The People and their Material Equipment The POPUJiltion enumerated in the ~urvey treated menials by the upper classes. Daolas period in January and February, 1962 con who are traditionally water millers are the sisted of: highelr ones amo.nll the Scheduled Castes as compared to Hesi and! Chamars. In a Daola Households classified by religion and. castes marriage a Brahmin priest may be invited to performs ceremonIes. A Dao1a usually sits --~ apart and does not sit on a charpoy before a No. of Religion C[\et~ House. PeffiOllS Males Females Caste Hindu. holda Chamar families ate considered to be the 2 3 4 5 6 lowest socially. They live in the eastern Dabhla, and are treated untouchables, be Hindu Brahmin M 256 103 153 cause they remove the skins of dead animals. Daola 17 96 42 54 Some Chamar families may be better off Chamar 12 53 25 28 than even Brahmins. These castesl have a Roli 2 10 2 8 Eumber of gotros. Brahmins belong to one Jat 1 5 4, gotra. The Brahmins of Dari belong to Rattan Bhardwaj g'otra. According to elderly Brah· Besi 1 2 1 mins and! the village priest, gotra, means Khatri 1 2 1 the lineage of a particular rishi. The Muslim Muslim 1 9 4 [) rishies, it is belived by them, were the early settlers on earth. Marriages are avoid Total. 98 433 179 25-1, ed in the same gotras. These sub divisions are not so strict among Caste Composition the Scheduled Castes, because many in· Dabhla·Dari is inhabited by seven castes of formants did not know their gotra and had to Hinqus. There is just one Musl.im house enquire about it from other persons. Even hold. then they were not certain whether the in. formation they Were giving was correct. Brahmins are dominant. Socially they have a high position in surrounding villages and At festivals Chamars attend on thE!lr are invited On births and marriages' to act as Brahmin patrons. The collect grains from priests. Their neighbours invite them at Brahmins to celebrate festivals like shradhs and bhatties. Baisakhi, Cheerian di Saji, Sair, Lohri and Di'WaZi. Each Brahmin family would give In social status J at and Kolis are. consider grains to Chamars who serve him. One Koli ed below Rajputs. The J at household has a is ·a barber to the Brahmins ar.d may work higher position than Kolis, who are not for Daolas also but seldom for Chamars. treated untouchables though the Brahmins He is sent for by Brahmins on auspicious do not accept food from a Koli. occasions. For shaving and hair cutting he Among other families Daola, Hes.i and receives payment in kind only at harvest Chamar sections of Scheduled Castes are time. 5 6 THE PEOPLE AND T~IR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT Language gawRi-ditti jad 0 We produce here an extract from Linguis was-lost when he Sari jadada. gawai tic Survey of India.' the whole property having-wasted Kahl'Uri or Bilaspu.ri baitha ta us SILt, then that The languages of most of the Simla Hill Illulakhde-bich bata 1m} States are various forms of Western Pahari. country-of-in a-~l'eat famine The most western states are Kahlur, paya, 0 bam. Mangal, Nalagarh, and Mahlog. In the west fell, he very of the two latter states the language is kangal - hoi.gaya ta Powadhi Pahjabi, and will be dealt with poor became then under that head. The dialect of their eastern 0 us mulakbde he that parts is Handuri Pahari. The dial~ct of the country-of faihnewalede kane raihne states of Kahlur (Bilaspur) and Mangal is inhabitant-of near to-oive :call~d Kahluri or BilasPllri (Bilaspur being !age, 'tine apni the chief town of Kahlur). Kahlur lies im began, by-him his-own mediately to the east .of the Hoshiarpur Dis jimina-bich BUl"d.nU charna trict. In the adjoining hilly part of that dis fields-in ewine-to to-graze trict a dialect is spoken whic4 is locally -bheja .80 suradi called Pahari. It is the same as KahlurV it-was-sent he the-swine-of khurakde barhe-hui satka-kane Kahluri has hitherto been described as a remaining rerna.ining husks-with form of western Pahari. An examination of food-of . the specimen Will show that this is not the Il.Jlna pet ·bh.arda-tha, c_ase. It is simply a rude Panjabi, similar to his·own belly filling-was, that !:lpoken in Hoshjarpur. tin-nu hor koi It is necessary to give full specimens of him-to ot·her anyone kirhh na ilada.-tha this dialect. A few sentences from a version anything not, of the I'ro'digal Son, given in transliteration, giving-was will show its character. Houses The houses are scattered in pleasant and INDO-ARYA~ FAlIILY CENTRAL GROUP picturesque surroundings. Most of these are KAHLURI DIALECT (lIfANGAL STATE DJRTRIC'! S:MLA) double storeyed having adjoining cattle PUKJABI sheds. The distant cattle sheds are used in Eki mnnude do summer or khatif season and the nearer ones ()ue man· of two in winter. Houses do not have verandahs. putt the !aukhe Only one house which is shop-cum-dwelling eons were By-the-younger has an open verandah. putta apne buddheno Eon hos o'\VIl father to For construction of houses, skilled work g&laJ& jo jadad men are engaged from neighbouring villages it was said what property of v Kothi, Glassin, Kasole and Kalari, mere bande aodi, Labourers for odd jobs come from these 1. Linguistio Hurvey of India, Pages 677-678_ 2. :rowards tho North-East, of Hoshiarpur, the dialect, rather approaches that of Kangra. Thus it has the Kangra. dative po~t position jo. THE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT 7 The double storeyed houses have the same next to the entrance rooms are rough pattern. There is 'always a kacha staircase squares with doors linking them with the inside of a room of the ground floor to reach front rooms. However, in the first floor there the first floor. The rooms of the ground floor are three rooms; one the rectangular room are usually proviqed with barred windows, linked with a staircase and the other two In the first floor the rooms have windows of almost the same length and breadth and with shutters or 'Without in poor families. sometimes with shutterless doors opening The roofs are either gable ended with two into the rectangular room. slopes or. conical shaped with four slopes. The majority of houses in Dabhla are two Men folk generally use the entrance room sloped while in Dari these are four sloped. as a bed room. Women an9 children sleep The kitchen. is mostly in the upper storey. in obries which are also used as stores for The houses face either east or west. There grains. One of the rooms in the first floor is is a courtyard infront of every house. used as kitchen. The ground floor portion of the house Rooms are almost of equal dimensions. A may be diNid~d into three or four parts typical room is 10' x 7' and 8 feet in height. when the outer dimensions of a house are A closed verandah type room is 22' x 7' by 17 x 13 halths. In such cases the entrance 8 feet in height. The main entrances are room is rectangular with one door. Or about 6' x 3'. The inner doors are near about sometimes it is divided into two separate 5' x 22', i.e. comparatively smaller. A barred almost square rooms_:having separate en window is 2'x1!' while a window with trances. The inner small rOoms or obries shutters is about 2i' x H'. Households by Number of Rooms and the Number 01 Person.:; Occupying Households Households Househqlds Households Households Households Household Total Total Total with no with with two with three with four with five with five number number number regular room one room rooms rooms rooms rooms rooms of of of and more House· rooms family ~~-A-"r----J'--v---A-..-.y----" hollis members No. of Total No. of 'fotal No. of Total No. of Total No. of Total No. of Total No. of Total house- No. of house- No. of house- No. of house- No. of house- No. of house- No. of house· No, of holds family holds family holds family holds family holds family holds family holds family members inem· memo memo memo memo mem- bers bers bers bers bers bers 89 329 433 12 53 16 72 7 34 35 146 4 25 15 103 In most houses generally there is ample chauka was polluted by a non-brahmin. accommodation while fifty three persons N ear the stair-passage a gadth(J~i is pro are living in single room houses. These are vided to keep pitchers. There may be a a majority ·of Daolas who stay in gharats. common courtyard sometimes shared by 146 persons belonging to 35 families live in two families residing opposite each other. dwellings having :flour rooms each. 103 There may be small beds around the court persons live in houses having five or more yard in which coriander, sonph, and garlic' rooms each. Sixteen families live in small or flower may be grown. houses having two rooms each. Construction-For walls trenches 2' x 3' A hearth is provided in the first floor deep and Ii feet wide are dug out to lay the where the fire is lit in winter. Members of foundations. The walls which are of dressed the household sit around it to warm them stones and fixed with clay mortar rise from selves. Due to shortage of timber less these trenches to the ground level. From windows are provided. In the kitchen a ground level these ~re raised to the height circular outlet for smoke about one foot in of the floor of the upper flat with stones diameter is provided in the wall facing the and unbaked brickSl. The walls of the first fieidsl. The hearth in a Brahmin family may floor may sometimes be entirely of dressed be found surrounded by a raised platform stones in certain houses. The doors and or chauka few inches higher than the level barred windows are fixed at appropriate o.f the kitchen floor. Some 50 years ago places when the walls at sides start rising, Brahmins were so orthodox in their out When the walls of the first floor have been look, that they never ate kac1w. food if that almost completed the roof is lad. Side by L/J(N)2SCOHP-3 8 THE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT side the walls of first floor go on rising. For The priest may adopt another method to roof batons supported at both the ends by approve the site. He may place the soil in walls are laid at It feet from each other. a metal plate and rotate it. In ·case the soil The batons are laid breadthwise. Over the powder changes its colour slightly the. site frame wooden planks of the thickness of selected is considered to be suitable. Other i" are placed and fixed with nails. The mats wise the location is changed. In such cases of date leaves are laid, or dry chit needles the whim or the judgement of the priest is are spread over the we-od work. Over .th~s the fin UPPER GARMENTS (WOMEN'S DRESS) Ornaments Chadaroo dupatta-Is head dress and -Silver ornaments are commonly used. worn in summer. Muslin is used for dupat The ornaments for head, wrists, and ankles are heavy. Gold ornaments are worn in the tas. Now nylon dup~ttas have become popu nose. This is a sign of suhaag among all the lar and are worn at all festive occasions, castes. During marriages or fairs a woman, marriages and fairs. would put on almost all the ornaments she Cha.ddar and Khes-These are sheets of possesses. The ornaments commonly \\'orn ,coarse cloth. In winter these have greater are:- utility due to their thickness. ORNAMENTS FOR THE HEAD Pa.ttu-'-A rough, coarse, hand spun hand Chak-Chak is of two types. Boranwala woven light blanket is used by men and chak and simple chak. A boranwala chak is women in winter. The women use it to...... cover a cup-shape hemispherical ornament made their head too. - of silver with designs and motHs e~bassed Kurta or women's shir.t-A shirt with' on the outer surface. Small pendants are collars, sleeves but not buttoned up like suspended on the side facing the neck. It is men's shirt. According to the fashion in worn on special occasions. vogue now a women's sl,lirt comes upto The simple chak is disc shaped and with knees. Some may have buttons on the back. out pendants. Worn at all times and is much The pockets are usually on the sides. Print lighter than the other one. ~d chints are preferred at auspicious occa Clips-These are made of silver usually sions. with a motif of a peacock. These are used to keep the hair in nlace. Sweaters are worn by some girls. Coats Phuls-Worn at marriages by well-to-do .and wCl;Skets are not worn by the women families. A phul resembles a boranwala chak here. Married women never wear black or but much smaller in size and without pen white head dress except when they have to ,dants. These are worn a little above each attend a mourning. ear and always in a pair. LOWER GARMENTS ORNAMENTS FOR THE EARS _ Balies-Made of silver and each weighs Shalwar-The common Punjabi Salwa1' about 5 to 6 grams. Older women are fond is used by girls and women. of putting on ballies. Three of four ballies are put on each earlobe for which separate Lehnga-An old dress lehnga is sometimes holes are pierced before hand. worm over the Salwar. Newly married girls Kanta-A bell shaped piece, fringed with may wear this for a few months after mar· It ear riage. It is. comparable to a big voluminous small drops. is suspended from the l?be by a hook. These are made of gold or skirt. sl~ver. Cheap kantas of allow with glass Rebdar Suthan-About twenty years back pIeces studded in t~em are becoming popu v.omen used to wear pyjamas which were lar. These are avaIlable with shopkeepers tight above ankles. But these are warn now at Bilaspur or at fairs. by old women only and that too seldom. On Tops-A minature flower shaped orna festive occasions women use colourful ment for. the ear. These may be of .alloy, dothes. Sometimes these are embroidered. gold or SlIver. A pair of tops weights about On auspicious occasions req. shade is popu 10 grams. lar and considered auspicious. Tim~These are miniature tops studded with immitatlOn pearl or turquoise. Shoes-The common shoes worn are the pahari joota prepared by local cobblers. ORNAMENTS F.OR TIlE NOSE Cheap and rough durby shoes are sometimes prepared by these cobblers. Tyre sale chap Balu-A nose ring of gold without pen pals have become popular. Canvas shoes are dants. sold in Ghatnarwin. Common shoesl for wa Besar-A big balu with pendants. Some r.:::n are panian open at heels. times a wire is coiled around this nose ring with glass beads. loota resembling men's pahari joota, but somewhat lighter is used when women have Na,th_;__A -beautiful nose ring suspended to work in fields. from the nose .• "IHE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT 11 Laung-A small gold stud set with immi Tattooing tation pearls Or turquoise weighs about six. Some men and women like to get them grams. selves tattooed. Twenty years ago this was TillJi-A miniature laung. quite the rage of the time. Now tattooing is ORNAMENTS FOR THE NECK not so common. Cheap jewellery and cheap Ham'-A silver necklace consisting of cosmetics have relegated the'love for tattoo some five or sjx chains. A pendant is fixed ing to the back ground. in the middle which has a motif of a flower The common forms of tattooing among ·or peacock. women is a small black dot on the cheek or Kantha-The gold globules are threaded. the chin. It may be a flower or a peacock This is worn on festive occasions. The motif on the wrist. Men like a peacock, wrist ·on the globules is of a lion or star. watch, m on their wrists Or back of the Mala-A silver chain having small pen palm. Fairs are the occasions where the ,dants. Malas of glass beads are becoming professional' tattooing is done. This is just a personal adornment.. No superstition is popular. Sometimes WOI?en ~ear amulets attached. 3S ornaments with a mohf of hon. Utensils 'ORNAMENTS FOR THE WRISTS AND FINGERS The common utensils of the kitchen of an ChhalbrnLian-A bracelet with pendants average family are made of bronze/brass, .attached to the outer circular surface of the aluminium, iron and clay. Well-to-do fami ornaments. A soft jingling sound is produc liesl have more of bronze and fine Moradabad ,ed. utensils. Gajroo-Chhalbalian without pendants. The earthenwares are supplied by the 'There are flower motifs. potters of Kothi, three miles from Dabhla. Kanganoo-A solid heavy bracelet of sil He receivels grains at the harvest season. ver and in some case of gold. These are Some of the common items of a kitchen flexible and have motifs of a lion or snake. are:- Choor-A heavy wristlet of silver with ~'ttnc (Jf Uteusil U~e motif of stars 'and flowers. Aluminium U!ensils- Bangan-Glass bangles are liked by all Pfl./.ilo·, Ito. 1 to R". 2 For cooking rice and _girls and young women. jJreparing tea. Glass. Re. 0';;0 to Ite. O· iii For driukin" wator and Angoothi-A finger ring made of gold. milk. ., silver 0r alloy. Hauli Re. O':!O to Re. 0'(1) For sorving vegetables. ORNAMENTS FOR ANKLES AIsQ used, as it lid for cookin~ pots. The women rarely wear any ornaments in Brass Utwll.~ils the ankles. A weil-to-do family, however, Banli For washing rice and may give an anklet to the bride. pu Ises before cooking. Tora-A common name for different types Bal/of) Rs.:1 to R~. 6 For lllilching cows Qr ·of anklets Sometimes these have metal buffn 100'l. beads whi~h jingle. Dllbra . R, ..') to Its. 12 J<'or cooking vegehtbles and rice . . Chhalla-A toe ring. (Ja.qar Rs. 10 to R~. I.; For fetching Ivater'. ORNAMENTS WORN BY MEN Bat/I); Rs •.;0 to Rs. i r, For cooking pulses at Kantha-This is worn at marriages round marriages and feasts. lI.llrchha R8. ;; to RR. 8 A big laddie used at the neck. feasts. Nantian-Small ear rings of gold. Harchhi Re. I to Ih 2-.;0 A htddle for serving Silver button are used for shirts. These daal or vegetables. Kallli Re. 1 t.o Ik:! For serving vegetables are five to six attractive silver buttons with and pulses. a silver chain. The ornaments can be pre Pftmt Re. 7 to Us. 12 pared at Bilaspur, Ghamarwin, Kothi and • For kneading flour. ,Patiln Rs. 7 to Rs. 12 Mainly for cooking rice Galashin. On festive occasions like marri and pateroo. age or fairs, women put on many orna Rarlltenl/;ar",~ ments. Unmarried girls hardly wear orna Ghati • Re.l • For churning cl1rd. ments except bangles. A married woman Dhon,oo Rs.5 For boiling milk. would invariably wear a nose stud or tiHi. Ghara Re.l to Rs. 1'50 J<'or keeping spices and other petty item~ of Cheap immitation ornaments of brass and kitchen• .alloy are becoming popu~ar. lllan(Jki Re.0·50 For keeping gltu.. 12 THE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT Use Xarne Use Name Iron Ute18i/,s- Woodenu'!lre.! Brllti • Rs. 4 to R~. 6 • For fetching and cary JJtaJ.hani He. I to Rs. 1· 50 For churning curd and iug water and for preparing whey. bn-thing purposes, Kali. For giving 0; J to cattle. Chimla Re. 0·5') to Re. 0·,5 A pair of tongs for Plml.;na ,}'or blowing fire. holding embers. KaraM Rs. 5 to Rs. 8 A big frying pan. Tha.theras at Ghamarwin mend metal KamhM RH.:2 to Rs. 3 A small frying pan. wares. Tinning of brass-wares is not done. Jlulik4l~ • Rs. 1'50 to Rs. 2 • For grating purposes. Different .types of metal wares can be pur Pmt. Re.l to Rs. 2 For kneading flour in families. chased from Ghamarwin. The price of these things is charged by weight. Brass wares Sansi Re. 1 to Rs. 1';;0 Fol' grasping hot utmi· sils. are sold @ Rs. 6/- per kilogram while iron wares @ Rs. 1.75 to Rs. 2.75 per kilogram. TI~51(, . Rs.3 to Us.;; A shallow pan. · 8 ehina and glasswares too are used. Some lts. 2 to l~s • .j, J!'Ol' baking chapatie • T(lWX families possess a few cups and glass tum-, ,]'(110' l~s. 10 to lls. 15 · For frying babhroo a.t If arriages. blers. These are used to serve tea to guests. TI",inlhoo Re. 0·50 to Re.l An iron implement for kitchen. Household Goods Stonfllt~£rC8 Apart from ornaments and utensils people KUluli Re. 1 to Itti. I· 25 Used as mortar. -possess beddings cots, wooden boxes, lamps,. Chukki Rs. 2 to lta. 3 A domestic grinder. lanterns, umbrellas and spinning wheels. SiZ B::i.2 to lts.:J ];'or-preparing pastes. Then of course there are a number of agri- · culture implements. . Material Culture:_Possession of Goods Number of Households possessing C'tste Chafpoy Steel Chair Wooden Lantern Watch Umbrella Spinning Box Box Wheel 2 3 4 6 6 f 8 & 54 49 5 50 42 47 37 Bmhmin ._. D,wla 16 13 13 7 15 8 . 5 Chamar U 10 1 9 7 10 I 1 Koli 2 2 1 2- 1 1 lIIuslim • 1 1 1 1 1 Jat 1 1 1 1 1 Hesi 1 1 1 KhaLri • 1 1 1 1 Even a poor family possesses one charpoy man. Fou~ persQns possess sewing machines. for each adult. This is a necessity. In sum Two famlhes, one of a Brahmin and the mer they have to sleep in the courty~rd. other of a Chamar own guns. There is always the risk of snakes, scorplOns and insects. A wooden box is invariably The common items of bedding are khinds there in the kitchen to keep food, milk and and straw manj-nies. The rags and old clothes chha. If these things are left open, the spar ~re stitched together to form a khind. This rows, rats and cats have a bite out of it. khind is used as a matress as well as a quilt. Items like tables. chairs. stools are not seen A manjri is prepared from paddy straw and very much here. Charkhas are there with used as a matress in winter. Chatai of Kha 59 families. According to a tradition this joor leaves is use'(j as a mat. Binnas from forms an item of dowry. Then there are l?a~dy straw ~re ,,small mats. Hookas, jha umbrellas. During the rainy season villagers ,7h1'oes. and. kahes ~re there for smoking. prepare umbrellas from !tau7' leaves. These Smo~mg . m clay hukka is preferred to cannot be folded but can last four months. smokmg m metal hukkas in summer be Every family possPs'ies a wick l:;mp without cause in a <:la~ hu~ka water through which any ·chimney. Hurricane lanterr;s are com- the smoke IS mhalled remains cool. These, are known as jhajhries. 'THE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT 13 Food and Drinks Food Taboos-Some food taboos are:- The staple food is maize. Thick maize . (i) A women during her unclean period chapa ties are co:rp.monly served in all house is not allowed to cook food so long holds from September to April. Wheat Cha as she does not take a bath and paties or bhaturoos are taken dU~'~!lg sum change her clothes. She cannot mer. Rice is taken off and on. Out of 89 enter the kitchen nor can she touch households, one household has 2 meals a earthen vessels lest they should get .day, 73 households 3 meals a day and 15 polluted. households 4 meals a day. Usually three .are taken. Before going to their morning (ii) To cook and consume rice on Eka work villagers take the left overs of the dishi is considered unholy. previo\.lS_ nIght. This is known as datialu. (iii) Mutton of sheep is avoided by Between 10.00 A.M. and 12.00 A.M. a full Brahmins in all cases while they meal is taken. In the evening, usually an do take goats meat. :hour after sunset there is the supper when (iv) Brahmin widows always take vege all members' of the household sit together tarian food. ,and enjoy their meals. During working sea (v) Meat is not served on Puranmashi, son the third light meal is taken before and other days when villagers fast. ·evening which is sanlialu. (vi) While observing weekly fast, salt Ltems of 'Food-Vegetable are mostly con is not taken whereas on a fast at a 'sumed in the rainy season when they grow festival foodgrains are avoided. in abundance. These are pumpkin, gourd, brinjal, raddish, lady finger and bitter ~our~. entire Roondh population at the cost DelIcacies like ankloo, ankilian, patattao. of their own lives. They 'informed babhroo, bhala, choorma, roti, poteroo. khir the chief that they were ready to and berwa Toties are taken on festivals and marry. the village daughter to his auspicious occasions. son and sent the invitation. The marriage party came. Poison was An1doo is a delicious food invariably served mixed in the water that was to be on Diwali. Rice flour is formed into a paste. served to the party. . A special stone mould known to be c1w-unsi Tlie marriage party was served is heated on the hearth. A little oil is applied. with food and poisoned water .The to the chaunsi. In the chaunsi there are smaU party was taking meals in the court~ depressions. The paste is poured into these yard while the bffdge and th~rlde when the chaunsi heats up. The water of the groom were performing marr.iage paste dries and an ankloo becomes hard and ceremonies within the house. The after that is served yvith milk and shakkar.. bride was pativa7'ata. Getting a chance for a short while she . Anklies ar~ made of ri~e. The paste, which informed the husband of all IS prepared for ankloos IS cooked over the the affairs. She requested him iron tawa like a roti. It need not be put over to take care of hTs life, because the embers. Tawa is rubbed every now and after the party the bridegroom was then with oil so that the ankli may not stick sure to be killed. The Roondh bride to the tawa. These may th,en be taken with groom jumped out of the window daal but preferably with milk and shakkar' and escaped into the village pastures. He was chased immediately and Babroo is a siweet roti. Shakkar is mixed over powered on the side of a gorge in the kneaded flour before ·the dough is ready situated at Kasole, and killed by vil for the babroos. It is then prepared the ss.me legers. The members of the marriage way as a roti and fried in oil. oarty were lying dead because they ilad taken poisoned water. As soon Bhatlas are prepared from mah daal. The as the bride heard about the fate of daal is soaked in water to soften it {or three her husband she fainted."'When she to six hours. After that the skin or-the daal r Inside the room, the couple is seated A pun type of marriage is the most sacred before the 'Kamdeo'. This is worshipped by of all. It is becoming popular due to its pre them. Worship of Nav-graha is performed. valence in richer and well-to-do families. Then they play 'Guna KheLna'. The bride But ba.tta satta is more common. Previously, gives gUl1a to the dIose relatives and receives some 20 years ago there were mul and batta cash from them. She offers ghee :md marriages and pun marriages were rare. shakkal' to her husband three times for fun. Food is served to those who are ~resent. Separaltion-Except Brahmins the marriage Braham Puja-On the next day Braham may be broken by having a divorce among puja is performed. The couple with priests the other castes. But there was no case of and women go to worship the pipal tree. divorce or separation in Dabhla Dari though There they tie hand-spun yarn around the cases of remarriage after the death of the tn,e and perform havan, and Fleek blessings. husband were there among the Scheduled Musical instruments are played upon Castes. In· the case of re-marriages of sepa throughout Braham puja ceremony. rated women or widow, no ceremony is per Then the couple and procession return. formed except that food is served to the At the house, the bride and the groom husband, relatives and friends. In such cases put off the kLeera,s and sehl'U before :he some amount has to be paid to the heirs ot 'Kamdeo'. Kleeras are given to the sisters the first husband for remarriage expendi of the groom while the'sehra is given to the ture incurred by them. There is no taboo bride who further hands it over to her against accepting one's brother's widow. mother-in-law for preservation. This is hung from a peg or roof. Subsequent Marriage-Among all the castes After a night's ·stay the couple returns to . the subsequent marriage is performed the the bride's parents' house. They bow to the same way as the first marriage provided it is not a widow remarriage. If the first wife has 'tcren' gate. On the next day, a charpo'f,. is died the second wife would put a saukan placed in the court-yard and a bed-sheet is .round her neck. A rough effigy of the first spread .upon it. On one side of the charpoll, wife is drawn by the silversmith pver a small the bride is given a 'toren' bath while on plate and studded in an ornament meant for the other, the groom has a similar bath; a the neck. It is believed that the dead wife sort of sacred bath. This marks the end of hunts the second wife. But when she puts the marriage. her figure round the neck as an amulet the Maklawa-A maklawa is the first custo soul of the former is pacified and does not mary visit of the wife to her husband's harm the second wife . . house. This may be postponed for scme convenient time if the girl ib minor. In In Dabhla one separated Brahmin woman usual cases it takes place within a year at inherited property of her parents. Then she some auspicious day. The husband .goes to married a refugee who used to visit the his wife's house to bring her to hIS own village before partition. The couple joins house. The parents of the bride give a basket functions and social ceremonies of other iull of fried sweet chupaties to the coup Ie. Brahmins. According to this refugee the case On arrival these are distributed Rmong t1\E' indicates the change that has come to the npighbours and friends of the hushand. v:il1a~e after independence. He predicts that Three Types of Marriages-These are "!l-ul, tIme IS not far ~way when widow re-marriage batta and pun marriages. In mu[ marrIage. among B!ahmms shall have to be permitted the parents of the girl demand some. amount by the VIllage elders. Though this marriag~ from the boy's side to meet marrIage ex was performed in contravention of the penses. The amount sometimes exceeds village· social customs the couple is not sub Rs. 2,000. This is more so for elderly ject to any discrimination. In a scheduled widowers who want to remarry or when caste marriage all or a few ceremonies like some one wants to get a second wife while Kanyadan, Sirgundhi, Bhreddian Bharnia~ the first one is there. and Tikka Tamol may be dispensed with In batta commonly k110wl1 batta satta; and the marriage rites are much simpler. a airl is gi;en in marriage in exchange for a bride for the brother of the bride. This is DowrY-A b~de-groom invariably receives done because it is convenient. Sometimes the 90wry. The artIcles of dowry are necessities chain is long enough to bind some three or of .life: These include ~lothes, a cot, beddings. four issues of a family in a promise of spmnmg-wheel and kItchen utensils. There marriage. may even be a seWing-machine. 20 THE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT Among Chamars and other Scheduled Cremation-On arrival at the cremation Castes, the customs are similar. The marria ground at the side of Seer Khad the bier is ges of Chamars are performed by their own placed on the ground and havan is performed priest known as Sant, who lives at Auhar. near the head of the deceased. Pinds are The pr\est is consulted to find out the auspi given here too. Later on a heap of fire-wood cious time called Saat. The marriages of approximately six feet long and three feet Daolas may be, solemnised by Brahmin wide is prepared. The corpse is bathed along priests. The marriage function takes two days with the clothes or coffin and placed upon the normally. fire-wood. The head is kept towards the North. More fire-wood is placed upon it so that the entire height of the pyre comes to Death Rites about four feet. The Acharaj may remove costly clothes and ornaments before the Numerous rights have to be performed at body is placed on the pyre. The person who death. It is considered bad if a person dies ,has to perform the death-rites lights the on a charpoy. The dying persons gives away pyre. The gotri or chief mourner throws a in cha~~ty foodgrains and clothes a?d if his seer of ghee, samagri and rasin on the pyre. means permit a cow may also be gIven to a Brahmin or Acharaj. It is believed that the Kapal Kirya-When the body is being con charity at the eleventh hour particularly of sumed by the flames, the/ son touches the a cow, saves a man from the torture of skull with -'1 bamboo-stick. 'Yamdoots' the agents of Yama, the god of death after death. After dan, panch-ratna The distant relatives and neighbours bathe pearl, gold, silver, copper and tulsi and in the Seer Khad, wash their clothes and ganga-jal-is placed in the mouth of the return home. Four close relatives stay till dying person under the belief that such act the corpse is .finally consumed by the flames. helps the soul in its last journey and. the death is painless. As soon as he expIres, Burnt bones of hands, head, toes, knees conch-shell is blown to announce the death. and feet are collected in a handkerchief. Sons, daughters' sons, younger brothers and These are brought to the house and kept for 'their sons get their heads shaved as a symbol a few days until these are sent to Hardwar of mourning. A bier of bamboo is prepared to be finally immersed in the Ganga. Those and the corpse is carried to the cremation who cannot bear this expenditure immersE:' ground. Before departure pinds are given in these ashes either in the khad or in the the name of deceased over the bier. SutIej. By this time an Acharaj comes or is sent An earthen lamp is lit in the main room for to give pinds and to perform other cere of the house. If the flame blows out it fore monies. He lives at Gatti, a village five miles tells more misfortunes for the family. A pitcher is suspended by a rope from the from Dabhla. ceiling. A hole is made at the bottom of the pitcher and a string is passed through. The Fuel for cremation-Generally the eldest pitcher is filled with water which drips drop son has to perform death rites. He puts on by drop. This is filled every day. The idea white clothes and carries an earthen pot full behind pouring water is that the departed of cowdung cakes and fire. The Acha:raj soul does not feel tl;tirsty on its new journev. chants man¢ras. The villagers accomJ2anymg Every day 'Garur Puran' is read out by the the procession carry fire wood: The VIllagers priest. For seven days in the morning pinds are also entitled to cut one chtl tree for cre are offered by the gotri through the Acharai mation under forest customary rights. The besides the khad or the stream. The Acharaj , forest-guard has to see that t~is conc~ssion does not attend the death rituals of the is not misused. In case the entire fu~l IS not Scheduled cas,tes. They perform such rites utilised on the day of the crematIOn the without the Acharaj, and may sometimes guard may take possession of the surplus give up pinds after the first day. Among the fuel. and deposit it with the department. Scheduled caste, the brahmin may, perform a havan in DaoIa houses to round off the Half way pinds-When the funer~l pro period of mourning. cession has covered almost half the dIstance to the cremation ground the bier is placed Seja Dan-On the seventh day a seja which on the ground and again pinds are offered. consists of a charpoy, utensils, bedding and Here the pall bearers may change. garments is prepared. After havan this is THE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT given to the Acharaj. Old clothes of the de A~ong the Scheduled castes these articles ceased may be given along with this. The are gIVen to their own dheo-dhayans i.e. gods Acharaj is paid. some cash for puja .and and daughters. kavan. Early in the morning, on the seventh day, two to three'p~rson~ bring out the lamp that has been burnmg smce the death. But Chubark.hi.... ;-It is performed on the fourth this is preferably not carried through the death anmv:ersary. All relatives are invited main door. Near the khad the wick and the and brahmI~s. are. feasted. Here again a oil is burnt. Then everyone returns. While c?mple~e seJa IS gIVen to the family puro carrying the earthen lamp no one speaks on hIt. ThIS marks the end of the death rites. the way. Kapre 'Dhona-In the morning of fihe tenth Shradhs-Every year shradhs are per day, members of the family, relatives and formed when food is served to the Brahmins neighbours go to Seer Khad. Women walk in the month of Asvina. It is believed that ahead while the men follow. At the khad the food served to the Brahmins at sh7'adhs everyone has a bath and washes clothes and is consumed by the deceased during life then all return. While returning the men after death. The family prepares good lead and women, follow. On reaching the vegetarian food. The day of shradh corres court-yard the priest ~pr.inkles a mixture. of ponds to the day of death of a person. First cow's urine' and ganga-Jal over them WIth of all some pieces of chapaties are thrown kusha grass. The floor of the house is to crows and dogs. The Brahmins' feet are plastered with cow-dung. This is known as washed by the host before he is served food. 'Kapre Dhona'. The 'Garur Puran' is finally After taking meals the Brahmin receives read out to the listeners on the side of the dakashana of five paisa or so and blesses khad. the host. The scheduled castes invite their own dheo dhayans on shradhs. Kirya-On the eleventh day, havan is per formed and 'Seja' is given to a purohit. Six teen Brahmins who perform puja are served Awtar-If a person dies without a son a food. . Each is given one dhoti, thali, Iota, crude figure symbolising the deceased is glass and janeu. This is 'Kirya'. It may be carved out by the Lahar on a small stone postponed for a day Or so if it falls on a slab. This is placed under a pipaI tree and Saturday or Sunday. ',l'he "patak" period worshipped on the day of Kirya. It is be finishes' on this day. The house is regarded lieved that only if a son performs the death unclean till the kirya is performed. The rites the soul of the deceased is appeased. widow removes her ornaments. She may put The autars, would pacify the soul. Appease on simple rings. ment of the deceased-ancestor worship is done by the higher classes. The family Solah-On the sixteenth 'day, provided it may erect a way side chabutra or plant a pipaL is not a Saturday or Sunday, a feast may be or banyan tree, where the passers-by would held .by some families. This is the day when rest a while. During summer arrangement for the mourning period comes to an end broken drinking water may be made at the chabutras by taking 'heeing' and 'turka' or fried articles. in the memory of the dead. Other forms in- The mourners do not come on Sundays, - elude repairs of a chabu.tra, construction or Thursdays or Saturdays. They do not observe repair of a baoli and recitation of holy scrip any form of greetings. tures on the death anniversaries. Occa sionally the worships include offering of rote Maiki-After one month, 'maiki' is per to the autar. formed. A 'Seja' is given to the Bedua a low grade Brahmin, who gives pind. The 'maiki' may be performed every month up to a year If a person comm'its suicide a dehri is pre after death but seja is given on the first pared and kept in the house. This is worship 'maiki'. ped at the time of harvest. In case of deaths during the Panchak period of the year, Barkhi-After one year 'barkhi' is per· Shanti is performed on Kriya day. Among formed. A feast is arranged for the relatives Brahmins bells and drums may be played on and villagers. On this occasion puja and the death of old men. The bells may be rung havan are performed. A complete 'seja' goes by the deceased's neighbours. A Hesi olays to the purohit. the drum. 4 22 THE PEOPLE AND THEIR MATERIAL EQUIPMENT The death of pregnant women is attributed cases if a women dies within the gauntrala to the wrath of God. In such cases the foetus period her soul it is believed, does not rest is brought out of the body. The child is buried in peace. The soul takes the form of a witch while the mother cremated. Persons dying of or churel. The chure! haunts the houses and small pox are burried. Sadhus, lepers and T.E. ravines and wails for her child. Her feet are patients are invariably burried~ turned backwards. The help of chelas is sought to pacify the churel. It is said that It is believed that- a 'Lairthi' and the newly if a chure! is not treated by a chela there is born child are haunted 'by the evil spirits likelihood of another death in the family. if precautions are not taken. The mother of This naturally ensures a steady tlow of a new born child is called "Lairthi''.. In such clients to the chelas. 3. Economy Agriculture is the mainstay of the people. Workers and Non·Workers The produc~ of fields is sufficient to feed the A few persons run gharats; make shoes population even. when the crops are average. and take to fishing. They may take to tailor ing, retail selling of foodgrains, salt, cotton Food grains; are seldom imported. cloth and articles of grocery. Total Population Workel's :Non-Workers Age Group -----" • Pel'80ns i.\faleB Fem(ll(l~ .P1lJ;,OlJS .. .Pen.o.Ds Males Fe.mruea Males FeJll81c.8 2 3 ~ 5 6 7 S 9 10 All ages 433 179 2540 211 87 124 .222 92 130 0-14 ISO 82 98 4 I 3 176 81 95 15-34 119 44 75 96 35 61 23 9 l~ 35-59 87 33 54 81 33 48 6 ~ 60 & Over 47 20 27 30 18 12 17 2 15 Of the total population about 211 are wor. 152 persons are agriculturists. 22 persons kers. The maximum number of workers fall run water mills. 15 prepare shoes and 8 per under the age group to 15 to 34 years whil~ sons remain occupied with a bit of fishing. there are four workers who are below 11 Women work in the fie}d they do manuring, years. sowing, weeding, harvesting and winnowing. Then they prepare 'food, milk and feed the The proportion of male workers to womert cattle and bring fodder for them. In water workers is 41: 59. Among non·worke.rs· most mills more women are engaged than men. of the women are over 60. They are old an infirm. So are the 2 old men who can not Other occupations are tailoring and busi· work. ness. Workers CVassified by Sex, 13road Age-groups and 9ccupations Occupation I-Agriculturo Occupation 2-Cattle Grazing Occupation 3-Tailoring Age Groups ,---.A. ., Persons !\oIales Femalli'i Persons Males Females Pel'Sons .lIIales Females 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 S 9 10 All ages 15:l 53 99 1 3 3 0-14 3 3 1 15-34 64 20 44 2 2 '5-50 61 20 41 1 60 & above '1) 24 13 11 23 lIjJ(N)2SCOHP-5 ECONOMY Workers Classified by Sex, Broad Age-gronps and Occupations-contd. Oocupation 4-Fishing Occupation 5-Business Oceupation 6-Weaving A:;e groups r r- ,-----..A. Persons l\1ales Females Persons Males Females Persons Males Females.. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 All Ages 8 5 3 2 2 1 .. 0-14 15-31 5 3 2 1 :3.')-50 3 .~ 1 GO & above Workers Classified by Sex, Broad Age-groups and Occupations-contd. Occupation 7-Gharat (Water Occupation 8--Cobbler (Shoe- Oocupation P-Unskilled milling) making) LabourerR Age groups r ,- r Persons Males Females Persons lUales Females Persons Males Females 1 20 21 22, 23 24 25 26 27 28 All Ages 22 8 14 15 10 5 3 1 2 0_:_r4 .. ' .. 15-34 13 2 11 9 6 3 2 1 35--59 8 .5 3 5 3 2 1 I GO and above 1 1 , Workers Classified by Sex, Broad Age-groups and Occupations-contd. Occupation IO-Service with Occupation ll-Musical Instru· Occupation 12-Gharat Individuals ment, Playing Accessory Manufacture Age groups r Persons Males Females Persons Males Females Persons Males Females 1 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 All Ages 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 0-14 15-34 35-59 1 1 1 1 nO & above 2 1 Non-Workers by Broad Age-groups and Nature of Activity Full time Persons engaged Dependents, Students or only in Infants and Children attending household Children not Others Total Non·Workers school duties attending scilool ,------'-----, Age groupS r ~ ,-----'-~ ,.-----.A-...... , ,-----'-----.. Persons Males Fe· Males Fe- Males Fe- Males Fe· Males Fe· males males males males males 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ,-lCAges 2,22 92 130 42 5 12 50 113 46 91 0:-;14 176 81 95 35 4 14 7 I 7 2 6 l)~1 23 9 (l 3 3,-5:J 6 3 2 13 6) & over 17 2 15 2 ECONOMY 25 The table gives statistical data about the Imprond method of paddy cultivation non-workers. The highest number of non· has been introduced, though villagers were workers falls under the category of depen· not enthusiastic about it. They felt this dents, infants and children who are not method did not yield more produce and attending school! The children attending too much of labour was involved. During school form the next largest number of de 1961 paddy was sown on 60 acres. pendents. Mash-Mash is the major pulse and is Persons belonging to other categories, pen taken almost daily with maize rotis. During sioners or land lords, are not found in these 1961 the area under mash crop was 20 acres. two villages. Mash may be sown in fields growing maize. Another crop kaehaloo known as arbi in Agriculture other parts of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab is of some significance. It is sown Agriculture is the pivot around which the after monsoons in the lands close to houses. entire economy of farmers, water mi'lJers, It re"i.uires sufficient manure. The weeding cobblers and fishermen revolves. Brahmins and hoeing is done thrice and kachaloo is are the dominant land owners. dug out in the month of September. The big broad green leaves may be plucked off ATea-Out of the total area of 426 acres, and on for Pl!eparing-paters. . 193 acres were under· the plough in 1960-61. There is no land under forests. 58 acres com Other minor kharif crops are kulath, prise of barren-and uncultivable land. 108 ginger, til. seul. ha1.di. Details about the acres are used as pastures. There is no cur area under these crops were not available rent fallow in Dad. But Dabhla has 17 acres in the village note book. In the beds around of current fallow. 168 acres can be utilised the house or on the fringes of fields the for rabi and, kharif crops. The cu'ltivable vegetables like lady fingers, pumpkins, fields are supported at sides by stone and bottle gourds, bitter gourds, brinjles, and soil hedges. In some parts these may be en tomatoes may be grown. closed where no rice cultivation is possible. lrrigation facilities are not commonly avail RAEI CROPS able. Some few plots in the vicinity of ehos Wheat-The most important rabi crop is are watered by kuhls. wheat. Usually mixed cropping of grams and wheat is done. Improved varieties of ridley wheat, No. P. 792, NP 829 and NP Principal Crops 809 have been introduced. The area under gram. and wheat in 1961 was 158 acres. KHARIF CROPS Other minor rabi crops were: Maize-Maize is the chief crop sown in June-July and harvested in September Mustard oil seeds in 2 acres. October. The land is ploughed twice before Barley sown in 1 acre. sowing. Three weedings are done during the crop season. Hybrid maize, the villagers Tobacco sown in 2 acres. felt, had lesser grains than the local variety. Masoor or lentil' The dry stalks are used as fodder and fuel. Onions. During' 1961 maize was cultivated on 94 acres. Peas. Garlic, Paddy-Paddy is cultivated in un irrigated and marshy lands. The regular rainfall Tobacco, onions, peas, garlic, corriander brings about a good crop. The villagers say is grown a little. that· a crop never failed though variations in total production are there. Fertilizers and Manure The local variety is being replaced by im Many villagers did not like to use chemi proved varieties. These are known to be cal fertilizers. They feel that fertilizers phul-patasha,. basmati, and begmi. The enhance the fertility in the first stage, while peasants have favoured the improved seeds in the subsequent years this falls rapidly. and according to one peasant, with im This prejudice is gradually diminishing. proved seeds and proper use of fertilizers The Gram Sewak had correctly given some he was able to produce some 25 oer /'lent demonstrations. The fertilizers were sold by more. the co-operative society. 26 ECONOMY SALE FIGURES Agriculture Calenda'r-contd. 11ds, Sra, Ammonium sUlpha.te sold in 1960·61 8 20 Name of month Na.ture of Activities Superphosphate sold in 1960-61 1 00 2. February Preparation of tobacco nursery. During' Ammonium sulpha.te sold in 1961-62 42 00 the li1st week reaping of mustard crop starts. Transpla.nting of tobace 1. Janua.ty 'Weeds are removed from the wheat fields. In (llLse there is late Bowing of wholLt followed by an elLrly rainfan Seed and Produ~tion rates-No crop then hoemg with damlc!li. First tillage cutting experiment had bQen performed in is done to the fields which are wa.ter the vicinity. As such no reliable figures logged a.nd ~nly paddy ~ulti:vation is regarding the seed used per bigha and, pro possible. Hoemg and weedallg IS done to potatoes which have been introduced duction rates could be obtained. These have reoently in 1963" been collected from local farmers. ECONOMY 27 Name of Crop Type of Approximate Approximats land seed per production For paddy th~ land Which is almost semi_ unirrigated bigha per bigha water logged IS ploughed thrice. Other lands are ploughed three to four times. The 1 2 3 4 seed is sown in the first type of lands in early Jyaistha while in others it is sown in Wheat A 6 seers 6maunds late Jyaistha or early Asadha. 13 6 seers 4 maunds :rhe paddy seed i~ usually sown duly ger C 7 seers 3 maunds mmated. The seed IS soaked in water for a Maize A ~ seers 8 maunds few hours. After that it is put in a basket B 21 seers 6 maundB and covered with a khind. When germina .0 ~t seers 4maunds tion starts it is planted into the fields Paddy . A 7 seers 6 maunds In superior lands the wheat is sown' soon B 7 seers 41 maunds after the maize is harvested. In other lands C Not grown in in. too it may be sown at the same time provided ferior land. there is sufficient moisture in the soil. Sarson. A Ii seers G maunds Otherwise the sowing is put off till it rains 13 q. seers 4 maunds Sowing. of wheat at times had t'o be post~ C 2 seers 2tmaunds po_ned tIll late ,November due to late rains. MIxed cropping of wheat and grams is done I ' on inferior lands. While collecting these estimates, the rain- fall was taken as average, fields were Hoeing and weeding of maize has to be manured properly and little damage was dOl}-e .thrice while for wheat once or twice. done by crows, parrots, locusts, rats, jackals ThIS IS ~one generally by women. Haloain, and monkeys. banchhole, doogti, drora alani peazi bhadiala, pitpapra, ghanau' are the' commo~ The land is tilled by the land owner. fn wee~s found growing in the fields during the some cases widows are unable to cultivate Rabl crop season. Jhanda, chhura, kohri and their own lands, their relatives do that and kQth~ra are the weeds found in kharif crops. pay hal'f ,the produce. Share is always paid Alam, and kohri are poisonous plants. Darora, in kind. The share to artisans like potters, bhadiala, ghanau are taken as vegetables. cobblers, barbers, blacksmiths and basket The reaped crops are brought to a khalian. makers is paid in kind. It depends upon the There the crop is left to dry. While threshing family's paying capacity. Cases of un wheat and paddy bullocks are used. Even registered mortgages were detected. The maira. may be moved over these crops. The system is known as gehna. heap IS beaten with sticks and the husk is separated from the common heap. The husk Utilisation and Marketing-Agriculture that is left with the grains is blown with a produce including maize stalks, wheat and chhajli or winnowing fan. The grains fall paddy straw are utilized. Straw is used as apart from the husk. fodder. Maize stalks are used as fodder or as fuel for the kitchen. These fodders are ~he co~s or the maize are separated and not sold. Every household has to bring the drIed up In the khalian. Then these are fodder from the nearest high hills when beaten with bamboo sticks. Grains are sepa the local grass crop is ·poor. rated and the cob is used as fuel. Agricultural 'implements-These imple The farmers seldom export the grain. ments have been used for centuries Tools Whatever is surplus is sold to Daolas and and implements can be prepared 'by the other petty agriculturists or relatives who Lahars who live in nearby villages. Every rUn short of 'foodgrains. farmer has the essential agricultural imple ments. Cultivation-Usually two ploughlngs are. given for wheat and three for maize. The Agricultural Implements first ploughing. for maize is given as early S). Name of impIe· Price Average Use and Remarks as possible after the wheat has been har No. mont life vested. The second ploughing is given when RB. the rains are expected. After that with the 1 Hal (plough) 15-()O 6 months For ploughing. third ploughing the maize seed is sown in 2 Jungla (Yoke) • IH)() 6 months To control bUllocks lines and in some cases broadcast. Then while ploughing. the land is levelled with maiTa. More 3 Dandoli • 5'00 3 years To perform a hoemg opera.tion. manure is used for Maize crops than for 4 Naira (levelling Babi crops. beam) 3'00 2 years 'To level the field. 28 ECONOMY Agricultural I mplements-cohtd. An enquiry from peasants showed that no improvement has been made in implements. . Sl. Na,me of impIe· Price Average Use and ;Remarks The main obstacle in the way of modernisa No. ment life tion of tools and implements is that the bullocks are weak. They cannot use heavier 5 Kudali (Spa,de) 5'0) 10 years For digging. implements. 6 Khilni (hoe) 1·50 1 yea~ For weeding and hoeing. 7 Kudaloo 1'50 1 year A small J(ltdali. Storage Vessels-The agricultural products are stored in an unique type of vessel made 8 alto,mo (IndJan spade) . 5'00 5 years Fpr digging. of bamboo strips and is called peroa. They are of different sizes. A bigger perao may 9 Dat (big sickle) 4·00 10 years For cutting orops I\Ild gra,ss. co~tain as much as 20 maunds. A peroa like JO Kltharee(Axe). 15'OJ years To out trees, thIS cannot be passed' through doors. It is half made out of the house. The remaining 11 Kuharoo(Smaller Axe) 4·00 4 years To cut fire wood. part is comp{eted after keeping it inside the store on the ground floor. Before use it has 12 Baila 0, 5'00 IS years To cut fire wood. to be coated from inside and outside with a 13 Mool ° 2·00 1 year. To thresh paddy. thick plaster of clay and cow dung. Earthen (No life) pitchers are used to keep dals and other 14 l!ungar • 2'00 10 years To tluesh pad(ly and ()ther g;rains. cereals. Goat skins may sometimes be used 15 Ohakki (Grinding for carrying wheat or maize. mill.portable) 5'00 Many For grinding and years crushing. 16 Ukhali (a sort of The labourers employed duri~g agricultu fixed pestle) 3·00 Many A hollow stone ral activities are some Daoia women or per years wherein paddy is put and threshed sons that have meagre holdings and little with 1nun(Jar. income. These labourers are paid in cash. 17 Dal (bigger They receive two meals a day in addition basket) 2·00 1 year To carrv and trans· to wages at the rate of Re. 1.50 per day. port c~'olis from fields. . 18 Sup (winnowing fan) 3'00 2 years T() separate grains Animal Husbandry from straw. 19 Kerairon (seive) 4'00 About 5 Multipurpose work. The table gives the livestock statistics in years. the village. Livestock Statistics Milk Cattle Draugbt Bullocks Goats and Sbeep Caste/Community r----"---. ,---''-----, lfo. of No. of No. of bouse- Total house- Total house. Total holds number holds number holds number owning owning owning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brahlllin • 46 89 37 74 25 38 10 7 Chamar • 8 H 4 6 1 1 Daola • • • • • 1 2 1 ° 3 Hesi 1 .Jat 1 2 2 2 2 5 2 5 Koli ~ 1 '1 Khatri ° 7 1 3 Muslim. 1 1 2 ECONOMY 29 About 265 heads 6f cattle were counted. Fish is mostly exchanged for grains and There were 111 milch cattle. 59 families own paddy. A kilogram of fish may get two kilo milch cattle. Brahmins ovm the largest num grams of grains. It is usually complained that ber of milch cattle while out of 17 families of some persons of other villages particularly Daolas only one wa~ possessing a cow. These RajPuts destroy small fish by using explo persons are landless and as such cannot get sives. Though there are guards of the Fishery rodder. Buying grm;s is an expensive affair. Department to keep a watch yet these things The pastures and grass lands are not suffi Eoometimes happen. Daolas are rather upset cient to support more cattle. about people using explosives. Villagers do not have milk regularly, but Fishing is done with a net. A fisherman children and old people take milk regularly, would throw a small pebble in the water. if available, Other groWn up and adult mem., 'Fish take it to be a bait and swim towards bers cons time .whey and ,ghee. it. The fisherman throws his net and then collects his catch. M.ale calves are preferred to female calves. Villagers can purchase a milk cow or a buff aloe from others but cannot get a well fed ' HOllsehold Industries and well brought up bullock. A calf of more '. than three years can be put to plough. The Type of Industries run by the Households cows cost less and' are easier to look after. A buffaloe co'sts more and needs ptenty of No. of' households . fodder. practising it as ,---''------, The number of bullocks in the village is Ma;n Subsidiary Caste/Community Name ofIndustry source of source of 99 These are owned by 49 families, but some livelihood livelihood poor villagers cannot afford to maintain them throughout the year just for a working 1 2 3 4 season of nearly 2 months. Under such cir cumstances cultivators seek the assistance Cham'lr Shoe making 7 1 of others, who usually loan out free their bullocks to plough the land. Daola Grinding Mill 9 2 Da01a Weaving . 1 39 families own sheep. Only one family had a goat. During the year one gets tw:o shearings of wool from sheep and when It The gharats or water mills are run by is fully grown up it may be slain for m~at. Daolas. It is the main source of earning for The mutton of self reared goat or sheep IS a 9 families. Two families own a gharat jointly taboo. and operate it in turns. There are 22 gharats in all. The Daola millers grind wheat and Poultry and Fowls-Brahmins consider it maize and supply atta to the surrounding a taboo to keep these birds. If one's foot falls villagers. They charge two parts for every on the droppings of a cock or hen it is be 40 parbs as their labour. No wages are col lieved that this pains the dead ancestors. The lected in cash. person is considered polluted and may have a bath. The stream is the source of power for the gharwts. Water can be obtained after paying Old people do not like to eat eggs. Younger a fee of Rs. 9 for two chakkies and Rs. 6 for Brahmins cannot take eggs in the presence one chakki yearly to Government. The equip of elders. ment required in industry are two grinding stones and a wooden garur. The grinding Fishing-is done by nine families of stones can be prepared locally from rock Daolas. Other families of Daolas also prac stone. Garur can be prepared from shisham tise fishing but perhaps without obtaining wood. Jicense. One Daola claims to be an expert manu These persons go about 2 miles upward facturer of gharat accessories and he pre and four miles downward the Seerkhad to pares the accessories for others. His charges fish. When they do not find fish in Seerkhad are not fixed. He usually charges at the time in May they may go to the Sutlej for fishing. of harvest in kind. 30 ECONOMY The gharats are situated on the side of Commerce-Two shopkeepers carryon Seer Khad and work upto the beginning of business in general articles. The Brahmin monsoon. The khads are in spate during shopkeeper deals in cotton cloth, articles of monsoons. Then the Daolas stop the work, general merchandise and grocery. According remove their temporary shelters and move to the Brahmin shopkeeper cotton cloth, salt, to their houses .in Dabhla. Gharat business gur and food grains sell more as compared is stopped for two months. During rainy to other things. He has invested some season temporary seasonal gharats start Rs. 5,000 in the business. With the other working along the chos where plenty of shopkeeper business is just a past-time. He water is available during thes~ days. No hardly transacts business exceeding a few gharat works on Luind Cho. An. average hundred rupees during the year. gharat may grind some 10 maunds of. grains in a day. Oil Pressing-The only Muslim teli of Dan presses out oil for ,the villagers. They supply Shoe-making-is done by Chamars. They are traditional cobblers. They are still paid him mustard oil seeds. He also gets oil seeds in kind after each harvest, but they have from Ghamarwin and sells oil on retail basis. started charging in cash as "Well. Ten years ago these villagers had to husk Apart from 'making shoes, they are skin the paddy themselves at home. But now they ners of dead animals and remove de~ take their paddy to the paddy husking ma bodies. They are tanners of locally removed chine at Ghamarwin. The charges are nomi hides and skins. nal. Considerable time and labour is saved. It is said that the rice husked in the machine For shoes they use rough type of locally is not so tasty as the hand pounded rice. tanned leather. But this does not meet their The pestle is fixed in the floor of the room or requirements. They get- some shoes from courtyard and is made of stone. A pestle Ghamarwin. There is a co-operative society may be 1i feet deep and 1 foot in diameter. which deals in leather. Previously they used to bring leather from Jahu which used to cost them 50 per cent more. Their women Other Artisans-The blacksmith, Bhanjara help in preparing shoes. -basket maker and potter for these villages reside in nearby villages of Glassin, Kothi, and Morsingi. They do not accept wages in A unique thing they prepare is a buffaloe cash. skin or sanai. This is used to cross the 1chads and rivers. Skin of a dead animal is skilfully removed so that the entire skin is untemper Other Occupations-Some villagers work ed. The feet and the tail portion is stitched. as labourers nearby. A few had gone to Air is blo\\1fl in from the neck portion and the Amritsar. Three of them were working in a skin takes the shape of a big baloon. Now cotton textile mill. Others have taken up this is put into the river. The Daola or Tarai service with shopkeepers as accountants, lies across the skin on his stomach. He starts salesmen and domestic servants. One young paddling with his legs and moves on and man was a rikshaw puller in Jullundur. Two floats down the river. Sometimes he uses were working in Government departments small wooden oars. The sanais are exten in Simla and Mandi. One from Dabhla was sively used when timber is floated down the in the army. His brother is a tailor in Gha river. The cost of a sanai comes to Rs. 15 marwin. One Brahmin of Dari had: taken up and lasts for about six years. hotel business in Ghamarwin. Two men of Dabhla were working as drivers with private Weav[ng-This art has almost vanished. operators at Kalka and Matiana. Two per Some families of Daolas used to weave sons of a Chamar family are working as twenty years ago. They have left it mainly fitters in Bhakra Nanga!. One was reported due to availability of cheap mill made cloth. to be an engineer in West Bengal. A Daola weaver used to be supplied hand spun yarn by the villagers. According to a Hesi plays musical instruments on different local villager the spinning wheel with young occasions. When he is short of food or money women are lYing idle. This affected the he goes from house to house and plays the weavers. They had to give. up weaving. They drum. Some collections are made. These resorted to fishing, running of gharats and collections are made on festive occasions as floating timber. well. ECONOMY 31 Ghal-Each lot of timber whether big or ~hes~ particles are picked up. The OCcupa small floated down the river is called Ghal. tIon IS carried only in the rains. A party The Daolas are expert in floating timber in of four persons completes the process. The rivers and khads. ,They go to high hills in process is known as sansai and the workers all the districts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar are known sansoas in the local dialect. Pradesh, and Kashmir. There they are em Their earnings are meagre. After working ployed to go down with floating timber. throughout the day a sansoa hardly earns Eleven Daola families and one Jat household a rupee a day. are engaged in this business. 14 members were found outside the village on ghals. For obtaining permission to carry the oc Other castes go on ghals when they run short cupation they pay a fixed revenue to the of money.: Government. The. sc:nsoas say that during recent years restnctIons on gold washing The ghal workers are of tW? types-taroos have been imposed by the Forest Depart and dabaroos. A taroo or SWImmer accom ment with a view to checking soil erosion. panies the floating timber in rivers. A As such this is done on a very negligible dabaroo builds wooden passages through scale. We were told this was never yery which timber is brought to river. His work paying. is more ardous and dangerous. He there fore gets more wages than a taroo. There One Koli serves as a barber. He gets a is a Daola jcim'adar in Dabhla who arranges share of the produce at the harvest. On labourers 1£011 contractors. He would givE:! special occasions, such as marriages he is an advance to the labourers and no wages paid individually a little cash. On auspi~ or salaries are settled before hand. Ho'Y cious occasions he plays the narsinga and ever when the work finishes they are paId receives some cash and food for himself, wag~s on the basis of the profit of the con his wife and other members of the family. tractor. If the contractor earns much .he Persons who earn by going out of the may give slightly higher wages. OtherWIse village have influenced the village economy. they are completely at the mercy of the Besides adding to the family earnings they contractor. Moreover it is the contractor are held in respect by others. It is felt that who decides the amount of the profit and such people have been earning in far off not the workers. It was gathered that a lands. While \getting married people wish taroo may Iget upto Rs. 100 or 125 P.M. to marry their daughters to such persons whereas a dabaroo may get upto Rs. 150 a who have been earning in distant lands. All month. When they leave the village for these persons regularly visit their homes. work they carry with them their supply of The usual time of their migration is the Hukka Tobacco which they prepare them period after sowing crops or ,before liarvest. selves. They may carry some maize flour Income Statistics too. On an average each one may .save from Rs 400 to Rs. 600 during the floatmg season We give income tables. The income is which lasts from September to February. approximate: - Male members from 19 families worked Monthly income of Brahmin Households in as unskilled labourers on road off and on. ithe range of The rate of payment is Rs. 2 pe~ day from Occupation of Below Ea. Rs. Above 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Households Ra. 51-75 76-100 RA. One woman was not able to earn any 50 100 1 2 a 4 5 thing and was living ~m the help she re~ Agrioulture 13 a a 10 ceived rvom her rel.p.twes. Some Daolas Labourer make fishing nets also. . 1 Agriculture and Service 1 1 a 5 Gold Washing-The Daolas say that gold Agriculture. Tailoring is found! in the regions of chos of Dabhla and Service . 1 in the silt and mud brought down by the Agriculture and Labou· rer 1 1 rainwater. This mud is mixed in water a~d 5 2 poured in phaloo, a wooden tray. A bIg Agriculture and Lam- berdar 1 'sander' which serves the purpose of a Agriculture and Rick· 'cauldron' is required to store the mixture ehaw pulling . 1 of mud and water. The water drains out. The Agriculture and Hotel. 1 process is repeated several times when. the Shopkeeper. entire silt is washed out. The gold particles 1 settle at the bottom with stone particles. Total' 16 5 13 20 32 ECONOMY Agriculture is carried on by all families Monthly income of Chamar Households in except one shopkeeper. The shopkeeper the range of possesses agricultural land in other an Occnpation of House- Rs. Ra. Re. Above village and gets his share of the produce. holds 26-50 51-75 76-100 RI. In all 13 families fall in the income range 100 of Rs. 76-100 while 5 families come under 1 2 3 4 5 the range of Rs. 51-75. Twenty households Agriculture I have been placed in the group whose aver Agriculture Labourer 1 1 age monthly produce exceeds Rs. 100. The Agriculture Labourer, Selling of Milk and average monthly income of six families does Ghee 1 not exceed Rs. 25. There is an old woman Service with a. local in Dari. She may sometimes find work in Farmer . I the fields. But mostly she gets free ~ood Cobbler and Ag~icultuJ:e 1 1 1 from her neighbours. She has been taken Cobbler 1 as a labourer. Ten families have been Cobbler and Service I placed in the range of Rs. 26-50. Cobbler and Labourer. 1 1 Monthly income of Daola HOU$ehold in the Total 5 2 2 3 range of Two families of Chamar have been placed Occupation of Rouse· Rs. Rs. Re. Above in the income range of Rs. 76-100 whHe five holds 26-50 51-75 76-100 Re. families come in Rs. 26-50. Three families 100 1 2 3 4 5 who prepare shoes are earning more than Rs. 100 per month. Agriculture, Wealing and Chowkidari . 1 Monthly income of Koli HousehdLds in the Gharat Accessories range of Manufacturer . 1 Occupation ofRonse· Rs. Rs. Re. Above Rs. Ghal and Fishing 1 1 holds 26-50 51-75 76-100 100 GhaI, Fishing and La- I 2 3 4 5 bourer 2 Agriculture 1 7 Gharati " Agriculture and IJabour. Fishing 3 er 1 Gharati and Fishing Total 1 1 Total 1 4, 11 Out of Kolis one family who depends on Among Daolas we do not find any family agriculture has been placed in the range of earning less than Rs'. 25 per month, Seven\ Rs. 26-50. The other household also cuts families of gharatis and three families of hair. He earns in the range of Rs. 51-75 fishermen have an income of more than per month. Rs. 100 per month. Four families have been The Musllim family who works on the placed in the income range of Rs. 76-100. ghani and resorts to labour gets more than vne person who prepares gharat accessories Rs. 100 per month. Same is with the J at falls in the income range of Rs. 51-75. family. The Hesi falls in the range of Daola families earn their livelihood from Rs. 25-50 apd the Khatri household in the seven major heads. income range of Rs. 51-75. Average monthLy expenditure per HousehoLd ,by income groups of households Re. 25 and below Rs.26-50 Re.51-75 Rs.76-100 Rs. 101 and ovel .-~~ No. of Approxi· No. of Approxi· No. of Approxi. No. of Approxi. No. of Approxi. Hems of Expen. House· mate House· mate House· mate House· mate HOWIe· mate diture holds average holds average holds average holds average holds a.verage expen- e.xpen· upen· e.xpen· expen· diture diture diture diiure diturc .2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Brahmif& Food 6 12 10 16 5 26 13 48 20 79 Clothing {; 3 10 5 5 9 13 13 20 2.2 Education 3 2 1 8 3 8 11 36 Meodie ..1 2 5 7 4 , 15 11 10 17 5 ECONOMY 33 Average monthly expenditul'e per Household by income groups of householdS-Contd. 1 2 S 4- 5 G , 8 9 10 11 D40ltJ Food 1 1'7 1 42 4, 56 11 86 Clothing 1 8 1 '7 4, 10 11 14 Education , 1 Medical 1 1 1 1 ~ 3 11 1 Others • 1 Ii 1 23 4, 16 11 43 Ohama,. Food 1 13 4, 18 2 29 2 29 3 75 Clothing 1 1 4, 2 2 6 2 7 3 28 Education 1 2 1 2 2 3 Medical 1 4, 1 2 1 2 1 3 Ii Others. 1 3 4 11 2 16 2 3(\ 3 9~ Koli Food 1 33 1 33 Clothing 1 3 1 7 Education 1 Medica.l 1 " 1 Others . 1. 13 1 25 Muslim Food 1 58 Clothing; 1 17 Eduoation ,', Medical 1 1 Others • 1 45 Jat Food 1 42 Clothing 1 8 Educa.tion lledical 1 1 Others . 1 54 HeM Food 1 25 Clothing 1 2 ' ._ .. Education ... Medical ...... Others • 1 6 Khatri Food . 1 25 ". Clothing 1 17 Education ... ,. ~Iedioa1 .:. .. Others • _J 1 16 ,. ECONOMY Expenditure It will be seen from the table that the We have collected a rough index on increase in inc'ome has not affected the debt expenditure. In the table the households position. The average debt per family has have been divided into different income increased with increase in income. ranges. The tables give an idea about the Sources oj Debt-Professional money lend approximate caste-wise expenditure on ers are not found here or in the surrounding food, clothing, educ,ation and medical. The villages. A needy person has to get loans expenditure On smoking, refreshment, soap, from friends and relatives. barber, travelling, religious amusements, Credit-Worthiness of a peasant is taken debt repayments, remittances ~o dependen.ts, into .~onsideration while advanCing loan. The cultivation household industnes, ente_rtam deed may be in writing for large and long me nt, fu~l, light, livestock and nii$cel term loans. Otherwise a promise is enough. laneous charges have been grouped under The villagers were in heavy debt before one head. independence. At that time they had no op The major expenditure in e~ery. ca~e ~s portunities of earning as labourers. The post food. The expenditure on educatIOn ~s 011 m independence years and the last decade the poorer families. There is very lIttle ex brought a big change. Their capacity to repay penditure on education in Koli, Muslim, Jat, the debt increased considerably with more Hesi and Khatri households. opportunities of employment. Indebtedness Co-operative Society No debts had been incurred by 23 families. There is no co-operative society function The debt for one family comes to Rs. 910/-. ing in the villages. Some villagers of Dabhla The highest debt of Rs. 3,000 was p.ayab~e are the members of co-operative societies by a Brahmin. This was for constructmg hls functioning in Ghamarwin and Kothi. house. The society at Ghamarwin deals in leather The rate of interest comes to 12 and much and is known as the Dabhla Charam Hastud more per annum. . yog Sehkari Samiti with its premises at The main reasons f6r taking loans by vIl Ghamarwin. This society was established in lagers are social ceremonies, fami~y ~xpenses November, 1959, with a subscribed capital of and purchase of bullocks. The p~mclpal and Rs. 710.00, each share being of Rs. 10.00. The interest partly or wholly are pald from the shares are held by 58 members out of which sale proceeds of grains after the harvest. If 8' persons of Chamar caste belong to Dabhla. one could not pay the principal amount he Government has aided the society as:- would work as a labourer and try to pay 1. Pay of Secretary-Rs. 300.00 (paid an- the yearly interest. The debtors act honestly nually as aid). and feel it their moral duty to pay thedebts. 2. Grant received in 1960-Rs. 1,200.00 There is a belie! in the area. tha~ O.ne who dies without paying a debt In ~hlS hfe 3. Grant received in 1961-Rs. 400.00 has to repay the same during the hfe after 4. Loan advanced by Co-operative Bank death by being born as a donkey. or a mule. -Rs. 1,000.00. According to a belief. t~ese anImals were The cobblers of Dabhla were satisfied with the debtors during then hfe before the pre the working pf the co-operative society. sent birth of those creditors who o~ them Their main problem before the establish noW. They are paying the debts ~o thelr oWf!- ment of society was to obtain quality leather ers b carrying loads and earnmg for their on credit. The leather merchants of Jahu mastirs. There are 66 families who have lsome charged exorbitant rates. According to a small debts. The figures are not very a arr1?- local chamar who is the member of H.P. • 1"'.1, with a will to payoff debts there IS mg a.. 'UI Legislative Assembly the cobblers used to no need to worry. obtain medium leather at Rs. 6/- per seer Indebtedness from Jahu in 1959. Now they get this leather Average No. of indebtedness through the society at the same rate. This Tot&lof house. per leather is now being sold at Rs. 7/- per seer Income gro~ house. holds household at Jahu. Thus, with the establishment of holds in debt in debt society the cobblers have saved Re. 1/- per 3 4 1 2 seer in addition to two days labour charges 6 2 255 Re. 25 and below. 17 13' 611 for going and returning from J ahu. Rs. 26 to 50 8 7 728 Four members were makers of shoes. The Re. 51 to 75 18 14 756 Rs. 76 to 100 • 40 30 1,206 profit is distributed by them every month. }te. 101 and over ECONOMY 35 Though the society had some loss in the ini 62 maunds of fertilizers upto February, 1962. tial stages a profit ·of Rs. 410/- was declared for 1960-61. On the whole the working of The financial position of the society seems the co-operative society may be considered to be steady. It has raised a subscribed capi sa tisfa ctory. tal of Rs. 1820.00 through the sale of 182 shares of R~. 10/ each. A loan of Us. 4500/ has been raIsed from the co-operative bank The Dabhla MUltipurpose Co--operative besides a subsidy from the government. Society has been set up at Kothi. It has 114 members belonging to Dabhla Patwar Circle. According to the balance sheets the society Nine members belong to Dabhla. No one from is earning more year by year yet the people Dari has become a member of the society so and members were not satisfied. One of the far. \ reasons is that the sodiety is three miles away from Dhabla. The villagers are least This society was formed in 1955. It deals affected through the business of SOCiety. in fertilizers, Mandi rock salt, sugar, food~ They complain that prices charged by the grains, kerosene oil and main items of gro society are not cheaper compared to the cery. Since its inception the society had sold prices charged by businessmen. 4. Social and Cultural Life In 1951 the population was 322. Now there Seventy persons are under four years. 47 is a rise of about 35 per cent. persons are more than sixty years of age. Population by age groups Births and Dea_h Total Males Females Details abowt Births and Deaths A. Total of all ages in Births Deaths 1951 322 145 177 ~---., r---I'-~ ll. Total of all ages in Year Males Fe. Males Fe- 1962 433 179 254 males males C. Population by age 1 2 3 4 5 groups 1-8·57 to 31·12·57 3 5 2 0-4 years 70 29 41 5-9 years 65 28 37 1958 4 7 4 6 45 25 20 1959 7 14: 3 10-14 " 3 15-19 .. 43 14 29 1960 ,4 5 2 4 28 12 16 20-24 1961 7 7 2 2 25-29 " .23 16 17 " 1962 25 38 11 17 30-34: .. 25 12 13 35-44 39 16 23 Totlll 50 76 22 34 45-59 ".. 48 17 :n 60 yeats and OVllr 47 20 27 The birth statistics show that more girls are born than boys. During the pe:r:iod some Females outnumbered males by 32 in 51 years there is a net addition of 70 persons 1951. They have increased by 75 ill 1962. after accounting for the deaths. Marital Status Marriage Statistics Castewise Age at Marriage r-- --~ Total 10 years Between Between Between Between More tha.n Caste of and below 11-13 years 14--15 years 16--20 years 21-25 years 26 years married persons Males Fe· Jllales Fe- Males Fe- Males Fe- Males Fe· Males Fe· males ma,!es males males males males 1 2 3 , 5 6 7 8 () 10 11 12 13 14 Brahmin 1« 5 49 3 23 3 16 14 9 13 9 Chamar . 32 I 2 .. 4 1 9 5 4 6 .. Da.ola 47 1 9 2 8 3 5 6 7 5 1 Hesi 2 1 ., 1 Ja.Ii 2 1 1 .. .. Khe.trl 2 .. .. 1 .. .. 1 ((oU 7 .. 1 2 2 2 .. Muslim 4 1 1 1 .~ . 1 Total. 24() 8 64 5 39 8 32 27 22 25 10 36 socrAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 37 Age and Marital Status Total Population Never Married -Married Widowed Divorced or Separated ~ ~ Age Group Persons Males Fe- M4lea Fe- Males Fe- ~ ~ males Malce Fe- Males Fe males males males maIN 1 2 4 () 3 6 7 8 !) 10 II J2 254, All ages 433 179 9<1 99 76 108 8 47 1 0-4 70 29 41 2\} 41 5-9 65 28 37 28 37 10-14 ,. 45 25 20 23 17 2 3 15-19 43 14 29 13 4 1 25 20-24 -28 12 16 1 10 16 1 25-29 23 6 17 " 6 17 30-34 25 12 13 " 12 12 I 35-39 20 6 H " 6 9 5 4,0-44 19 10 9 9 5 4 45-49 • I -11 4 7 2 6 I 1 50-54 22 9 13 9 5 8 55-59 15 4 II 2 6 2 5 60 a.nd over 47 20 27 " 17 4, 3 23 Age not stated In the past many said that child marriage village occasionally and has constructed a was the order of the day. The figures show shop-cum-dwelling house in Dabhla. that a fair number of marriages took place A Daoia belonging to erstwhile Bh~jji at too early an age. But now the age of State has settled in Dabhla. There was a marriag~ is increasing. The parents are keen Daola widow whom he married and now to get their children married during their stays here. life time. They are keen to see their grand The Hesi came from Mandi District about childre~. They get more happiness out of forty years back. His wife had divorced bringing up grand-children. A great deal of hini. So he did not like to remain in the time is required to change their outlook in same village and came to Dabhla. Since then respect of child marriages. - he stayed on. It will be seen that 72 marriages or 30% The Muslim family of Dari migrated from married persons were wedded at 10 years Kangra District and was offered land for or below. The ratio of boys to girls is strik cultivation. His father had quarrelled with ing in this group. 44 or 18% of the married his brothers and did not like to stay with persons were married between 11-13 years. them. He left his village for good. Thus 116 Or 48% of the total marriages were Literacy solemnised in early childhood. _A girl mar ried above 20 years is not there. Education-In this sphere change has taken place. 54 boys and girls were studying 184 persons or 42% of the population is in the schools at Morsingi, Ghamarwin and married. There are 55 widowed persons; Kothi. Kothi and Morsingi have primary the widowers and widows being 15: 85. The schools. At Ghamarwin there is a higher striking contrast is due to the absence of secondary school. In 1963 a -primary school widow remarriage. 33 widowed persons or started functioning at Dabhla. 60% of the total widowed persons are above In all 65 persons were found literate and 55 years; have been classified in four groups:- Cases of polygamy are found among Brah~ One woman married in Dabhla has done mins. In Dahhla one. haSl two wives. In Dari her Prabhakar. One boy of Dari was study there are seven men each having two wives. ing in the higher secondary class at Ghamar~ win. 21 males have studied upto primary Settlement of Families-One Brahmin school. They are able to read and write who carries retail business in Dabhla has letters. 41 persons had studied partly in come from nearby village. He visits his school and partly at home'. 38 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE Two Brahmin boys of Dari and Dabhla girls should be given opportunities to study were studying in the Punjab. One was in schools. They feel that conditions a~e fast studying in B,Sc. (Agriculture) at Ludhiana changing and illiteracy would be their big while the other was in an Engineering Col handicap one day. lege. Harijan Education-Two children from Girls Education-=-Eleven girls were going Chamar households were attending school to school, two from the family of the pan regularly. Daola children add nothing to the chayat secretary. The villagers have a family income by grazing cattle and watch strange notion ~bout educating their daugh ing fields yet they were not being sent to ters, They feel that girls would not be join school. The parents felt that after all their ing offices later on, therefore, there was no children wo~ld have to fish in waters, go to need to educate them. But exceptional cases ghat or grmd atta, therefore, education could be traced where parents realised that' would hardly serve, any useful purpose. Education " Literate with Matrie or T(}tal Population Illiterate out educational Primary Higher Ago standard 01' Basic Secondary ,_-.A.Others __ groups ~ ~ ~ r---"-----. Pereons .afales Fe· Males Fe- Males Fe- Males Fe- Males Fe- ~fales Fe- males males males males Imales males 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 All ages. 433 179 254 122 246 35 6 21 1 1 1 0-4 70 ~9 41 29 41 5-9 65 28 37 14 33 14 4 10-14 45 25 20 6 19 11 1 8 15-19 43 14 29 5 28 1 8 1 2()-24 28 12 16 9 15 2 I 1 25-29 23 6 17 I) 16 1 1 30-34 25 12 13 9 13 2 1 35-39 20 6 14 I) 14 1 .'. 40-44 19 10 9 8 9 2 405-49 11 4 7 4 7 50-54 22 9 13 8 13 1 ".. 55-59 15 4 11 4 11 60 and over 47 20 27 16 27 3 1 Age not stated. .-.::. Of the 433 persons 368 or 85 per cent are NaJture of a Family-There are three broad illiterate. The literacy among women comes classes of families, simple, jntermediate and to three per cent against 32 per cent among joint families. Among simple families we men. include those families which consist of hus band, wife and unmarried children. Inter mediate families consist of a married couple, Family structure unmarried brothers, sisters and may be one The maximum number of persons or forty of the parents. Joint families include the three per cent of the population live in seven couple with, married sons, daughters or with to nine members' households. Seven per married brothers and sisters. cent of the population live in the households 35 families are in the first category. Thir having ten or .more members. 157 persons teen families may be placed under the constituting thirty six per cent of the popu second group. Forty families are included in lation live in 4 to 6 members households. the group of joint families. Conditions have Five or six members is the average size of changed much. The system of joint. families a family. Ten households are single member has started disintegrating. A married son households. These are of widows and a Hesi. would favour a separate home of his own. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 39 Size and CompOSition of Househoids Total number Single member of Households 2-3 lIfembers Household Males Females "- , Household Males Females ,. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 10 1 9 20 18 32 4-6 Members 7-9 Members 10 lIIembers &; abov~ Total number --'- of Households House· Males Females , Heuse· ~Iale8 Females House- Males Females hold hold hold 1 8 9 10 11 12 13 14, 15 16 89 32 65 92 24 80 105 3 15 16 Inter-Family Relations land so long as she was alive. After her The inter-family relations are cordial. If death the property passed on to the brothers disputes arise, they are settled by the village of her husband or to other collaterals. elders. I Now under the Hindu Succession Act, the Sometimes neighbours are not too cordial women have become cautious and realise towards each other. Minor quarrels arise their rights. The village folk feel the daugh over children, cattle tresspass or diversion ters do not ask for their share from their of the water. These cases are reconciled parental property and say so while filling with time. According to the Lamberdal' in an affidavit in the court. Only very few such disputes were common a few years ago. persons agreed that the daughters should be The cause was fragmentation of holdings. given the right of inheritance. Disputes arose for passage for cattle. Since Elderly men are not in favour of these cattle would slightly eat up the crops grow measures. Out of the eighty-nine informants, ing by the sides of fields a quarrel would nine were in favour of this law while others start. were against it. Five girls have derived Position of Women benefit under this law. Women play an important role in affairs of The argument advanced by the orthodox the family. They cook "food for all, maintain section against the measures is that it breeds order when "the husband is out and look after hatred between brothers and sisters. They the live-stock during the day. And brlllg up feel that a daughter receives her share in children. A girl has no choice in the selection the shape of dowry at the time of marriage. of her husband. Some slight sort of a veil is Moreover when a girl has become a member there as women pass men particularly if they of another house she should not be given are strangers. A Brahmin widow is generally the right in her parents property. She is not not to remarry. In case she wants to remarry, able to plough the land independently. If no Brahmin in the village would accept her girls inherit the property they usually sell A man may remarry in spite of his first wife the land and go to live with their husbands. oeing alive. In other cas,tes a widow can re This has happened in the cases where girls marry only when, some money is paid to her inherited property. relatives. Among Brahmins a woman never Previously the rights of inheritance pass ploughs the land. After the death of her ed on to the sons. In case there were sons husband she should eat simple food, dress from two wives the property was divided simply and keep herself busy with the work first. Each part was further divided among in the house or fields. The saying goes: "a the sons of the same mother equally and woman should remain under the control of this type of partition is known as Choonda her paren.ts:i.n the childhood, 4usband in wand. The other method is of equal distri youth and children in her old age". bution among the brothers. This principle Inheritance of Property is known as Moonda wand. According to' Tradition did not allow women to inherit this all the sons get an equal share in fami property. In widow-hood she could possess ly assets. For minor children mothers act the property of her husband but .could not as guardians. Illegitimate children have no> sell it. She could spend the earnmgs from share what-so-ever. M/J(N)2SCORP-7 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE Sanitation and Health Gidda-Gidda dance is popular with women and girls. Daola women are fond of The surroundings of the village are pret dancing the Gidda. They organise dances ty, attractive and clean enou~h. Cattle dung on occasions like marriages and births. Dur does lie near-about the dwellmgs. The paths ing moonlit nights these women come to a .and the surroundings become slippery' when Chabootra at Dabhla to dance. it rains. Cattle ar~ tethered on one s.ide of The women sit in circle, they sing and clap the courtyard. ThIS causes some nUIsance. their hands. One of them dances in a circle. A bath twice a week in winter, oftener She claps her hands in front and then during summer is common. whirls around. While dancin& she would During winter the fruit of rata .(l3-eetha) raise her right heel. If there IS no drum an tree is used for washing. Hearth ash IS used earthen pitcher is tapped. Women may use for cleaning mattresses or quilts. There is a tinkling anklets or gungros. washermen at Ghamarwin. Yillagers prefer Men on festive occasions dance under the to do their washings at home. pipal tree at Dabhla particularly when bies Malaria was the biggest enemy of the sings of goddess Durga are sought by the people. This has been w.iped out. Mala~ia villagers. Two or three of them dance, mov .surveillance workers VISIt every house re ing round and round with their hands spread gularly. During 1961 three cases of malarIa open and jumping. The speed and tempo of were reported. These were cured m the the dance increases but the movements re early stages. main the same. The dancer dances on the The health of the people is fairly good. beats of a drum played by the Hesi drum For minor ailments indigenous medicines mer. .are used. For· major ones they attend the Fairs and festivals are great entertainment. Health Centre at Ghamarwin. Nalwari and Rangnath fairs at Bilaspur, Savan Ashatami fair at Naina Devi and Leisure and Recreation Guga fair at Geharwin are attended with great enthusiasm. June and July are the leisure months. There is a chatterer (guppey), who goes on A feature of festivals is that a fast is ob >chatting and entertains ev~ryone. Hukka,. served. Grains, cooked vegetables, pulses cards and a bit of relaxatlon are common and salty food is avoided. Phal Ahar diet leisurely traits. Then there may be game of is taken in the afternoon. This consists of fruits, icacha[oo., potatoes, parched siu.l, milk chaupar or a game of chess. and sago. Festivals are not celebrated in The common recreation among children families where a bereavement has taken. A :are games like guli-danda, kabaddi, hide and festival is abondoned for all times to come seek. Children love to make sand castles if death takes place that day. It is resumed .along the little nuHahs.· Then they make only when a birth of a male child takes little houses, fields, tre~s and so on, goes a place on that day in the family. . fanciful play full of de!Jght, humour, charm .and a' bi t of the architect's skill. Fairs and Festivals Hide and Seek-A child is declared as a Bas?a or Ba~sa~hi-Falls on the first day Karva Chauth-Falls on the fourth day of On the first day of Magha, khichri is pre the dark half in Kartika. This is the festi pared by all. Well-to-do families may take val of married women. They celebrate it ankloos. keenly. A married woman would take four Sanga,t Chau,th-A brat is observed by the karvas-earthen vessels. These are filled women and udyappan may be performed. with rice. Some water is poured on thes~ karvas. Women worship these. These are . Gauntrie?-Fall on the third day of the then given to the priest the husband and to bght half m Pausa. Fast is observed by one of the relatives. women and Bhallas, ankloos or paloos are served. The women dress in their best. They fast. Even sewing cutting and knitting may be Basant Panchami-Falls on the fifth day abandoned f~r the day. It is believeq that of light half in the month of Magha. Men such actions may bring misfortune to their and women wear head dress of yellow colour husbands. At night the women would first because Sarson flowers profusely and re see the moon, light a lamp of ghee, worship presents the advent of spring. Bhallas, the mOOn and then take food. Every woman poloos and ankloos are cooked by all. would like to look her best-like a bride. '" Shivratri-Is the third day before the .new Panj Bhikhami Puranmashi-Falls on the moon in Phalguna. A fast is observed. Shiva day of full moon during Kartika or Marga is worshipped. The villagers do not name shirsha. Everyone fast. Those who do not Cha~tra. Instead Hesi or Turi drum beater observe fast take khichri. For five days the comes who sings song of Chaitra. Some people would not take heeing. Such fami women go round singing Chaitra song and lies also perform puja and keep an earthen play on the Dholak. lamp lit continuously for five days. The Chamars collect grains from theit DewaH-Falls on the Amavasya in Kar Brahmin Jajmans on Baisakhi, Cheerian di tika and is celebrated to mark the return Saaji, Sair, Lohri, Dewali and Shivratri. of Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of ex~le. The Brahmins would give grains of maize. AnkLoo is the favourite food taken wlth milk on Dewali. Those who are better off Elderly persons observe fasts on the first bring Kheelan, parched rice, sweets and day called Sankrant of each Bikrami month fireworks from Ghamarwin and delight and on Puianmashi. Certain persons fast on their children. Among Brahmins there is a Tuesdays. Only one salt free meal is taken belief that Lakshmi; the goddess of wealth on these days. The fasts which are observ visits houses on this day. As such a Brah ed every week or every month are disconti min would worship a rupee coin. This is nued when a udayappan has been perform considered to represent Lakshmi. At dusk ed on such day. Expenditure during an they light earthen lamps "and illuminate average udayappan may be Rs. 300/-. the surroundings. A fair is held at Marsingi close to Dari. Barlaj-The next day of Dewali is Barlaj. About two thousand men attend the fair. Ankloo food is served. The artisans and Sweets and articles of merchandise includ peasants worship their tools and ~mplemen~s. ing cheap cosmetics are on sale. A cattle Fields are not ploughed. Brahmms worship market is also held. Nearly fifty cattle are pipal and the legendary Goverdhan Parbat. sold in a day. The fair is held under the Bhai-Duj-Falls on the third day of village committee. . Dewali. Sisters give tamol, clothes and Previously the villagers had to buy bull sweets to their brothers. Brothers in turn ocks and livestock at the Nalwar fair at give them presents and money. Sweet food Bilasp'ur. Now they purchase them at Mor like khir and haLwa are cooked. singi. The cattle which have to be disposed Lohri-During the month of Pausa, child of at lower rates at home can be exchang ren go from door to door and narrate ed with cattle traders there. The fair is Lawri verses. They receive grains. The being celebrated annually since four years. households where a son's birth or marriage has taken place may give coins to these A fair of Bheanoo Pir is held in Gnddoo children. On the last day of the month a on the day following Gugga Naumi. This log fire is burnt. People come and sit around lasts for two days. There is a place of it. Humorous and sometimes naughty songs Lakhdata where devotees and followers of are sung by children. Local problems may Lakhdata Pir offer coins and grains. These be discussed. Parched grams, maize and gur go to the Chela of the Pir. The C'ollections are served. of grains come to a few maunds. There may ;SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 43 be some cash, ghee, 9ur and pulses. The~e is a belief that offering grains to the PIr . "Some where in Daccan there where two keeps catt.le freE' from disease. About one Ststers J?achla and Kachla, wives of a Chau. thousand persons' attend. han ~aJPut naf!!ed Dev Raj. They were with out 1SSUe and m the hopes of issue, Bachla A fair is held In Bhel hamlet on the third went one day to the shrine of Gorakhnath -day of Asauj. There is a sacred place of the'Y!- she was promised that if she came Pahano. deity in the village. The chela agc:tn she would be given a fru'it to eat and answers the querries of the people and tells chtld. wO'lllld be assure~ her. Kachla hearing them the causes of their sufferings and dis of thts went next day tn the guise and dress eases. Such miseries are usually attributed of Bachla and received and ate the fruit to the wrath of Paharia God. The ch~ba The ~ext day Bachla went and found that finds out a solution which ends up wIth h~r stster had stolen her blessing as Jacob slaughtering of a goat or sheep or offeri~g dtd that of Esau. She was, however given of Choorma sweet to appease the Pahana another fruit half of which she ate a~d half deity. The local people believe that his she gave the mare she was riding. To wrath leads to evil effects more so for Kachla was born a daughter Gugri to women. Bachla a son Gugga, and the mare likewise had a foal. Gugga and this foal were brought Chugan fair is held in. La~dan on the up together. When he came to man's estate second day of A~hvina . .At Ladaan. vIllage there is a place of Pahana god worshtpped by Gugga heard the fame of beautiful maiden, the villagers. and taking the horse (his foster brother) he went to woo her. For years he 'Hved with Haria Devi fair at Hari TaHangar is held her, being changed by day by the sorcery on the 8th and 9th day of Jestha. About of the country to a sheep and by night hej ,5,000 p~rsons attend. Wrestling matches are reassumed the form of a Raja. In his absencp. ,a feature of the fail'. a pretender arose to the estate and attempt The local deities, gods and g~d~esses mo~ld ed to force an entrance to the palace. The the social life. On every auspICIOUS occasIOn door-keeper who had grown blind since or important day, villagers wo.uld like. to Gugga's departure 1'efused him admittance worship these gods .. Their blessl!1gs are In and disbelieving his assertion Ithat he was voked at times of dIsease and mlsery. They Gugga insisted that on Gugga's 1'eturn he do not worship many of these deities in a would receive his sight. Ultimately being' particular temple but under any pipal tree hard pressed Gugri sent a lefJter by the hand' ,or on a platform by offering halwf!-' rate, or of a Brahmin to Gugga in Bangahal. He swee,ts. Here is a list of the more lmportant realising the state of affairs abando?]ed his (ieities: - life of pleasure and with the help of Brah min escaped from the sOTcery throt bound Gugga-This deity can be seen in Gugga him. By the same aid the horse that hact temnles called Maris places and platforms grown old and thin was restored, and Gugga ·erec~ted around pipCLl or banyan trees. An once more mounted his steed and departed. image of a rider on horse back roughly On his return home the door-.keeper receiv carved out On a stone and installed there ed his sight and. Gugga and Gogri both per denotes Gugga. At Dabhla ~n idol of Gupga formed miracles of powers in fighting and exists in the Nagroan portIOn. At the tIme the former even fought for a time apter he 'Qf worship the devotees sometimes organi~e had lost his head. After death he was vene a community feast. According to a prevail rated as a god and is always rep1'esented ing belief the worship of Gugga prevents on horse back. Any person suffering from the devotees from snake bite and cattle keep snake bite is susually taken to Gugga when welL On such occasions blessings of Gugga the priest examines him, mutters incanta are sought by offering him rate, choorma tions, and if he sees that ilt must be a fatal .and halwa. At Dabhla this god may be seen case, sends him away with the comfortable placed under a pipal tree around which a assurance that he has done something to platform had been constructed about two mOl1talllJ offend the ,local deity and cannot hundred years back by some devotees. A be forgiven. (Page 210-211)". feature of Gugga in this vilage is that though there is a Gugga image no Chelas are atta During the month of I;3hc.t!1'a the famous ched to it. A local purohit is invited to festival of Gugga Naumi is celebrated. From chant ma~tras when some one OITers rote. first to the eighth day of Bhadra some 'The Kangra District Gazetteers (Part At people go from house to house singing 1924-25 has given the following account of Gugga's life history. Scheduled Castes and Gugga. Swarans go jointly. Daolas may form their 44 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE separte groups or mandlies. In a small Durga or goddess Bhagwati is worshipped mandli they may have greater share of mostly by Brahmins. Her blessings are grains which they receIve while gr_1in~ sought to get good luck in agriculture. busi. around. ness, marriage and litigation. Animal sacri~ iice is made occasionally under the tree at The mandli has a Gugga. emblem with Dabhla where these gods have been placed. them. Each leading person in a mandli may Outsiders may come here and offer sacrifices. hold one iron rod in his hand as emblem. The sacrifices of goats, sheep are made tq The head of the rod is shaped like a snakes appease them. The flesh of the dain anirJ1al hood. Maulies are tied to the rod. Insence is is taken by the person concerned. The flesh otrel'ed in the morning before a party sets may be consumed by the S:lcri ficing persons. out singing. ' themselves or given to their own relanves. At Daro there is a sthan of Durga over a Other members of the mandLi may beat a chabootra under a pipal tree. There sacri dauroo. One or two others may have bI\Ju'ze fices are not made. Anmial sacrifice is resort thalies and beat them. Instruments are ed to invariably when theSe villagers go to played along with the songs of Gugga. On places where there are temples with chelas. the last day: the day of Gugga Naumi the Bheano Pir has a Samadhi in Dabhla. But the songs are slung on the Gugga Sthan at Nag on1y image is a huge stone. This lies on the roan. approach road to Dabhla near the water mIlls 0]1 the bank of Seer Khad. He is wor Paharia is another diety. According: to shipped by the Daolas as the god of the khad. common belief this has assumed the form of He is appeased against heavy rains, floods a horse rider in white clothes. Worship is in the khar and land slides. the same as for Gugga. There is no chela in these villages. There is uo particular place Sidh Or Dewat-Sidh is a deity in whom of this god in either of the vil1age~. Offer many families have faith. A stone with a ings of halwa may be msde to a PlpaL tree crude impression of two human feet on it has as a mark of respect to this deity. Accord been placed on the Chaboot1"a, at Dabhla to ing to a general belief he is n very revenge~ represent the Dewat Sidh, along with other ful god and gets easily offe:r:ded. The newly images. At Dari there is a .~thapna. of Sidh. married wives and girls whO do not have This is worshipped in these villages in the faith in him are supposed to suffer. frpm fij s. same way as Gugga and Paharia gods. The In Dabhla a young girl became a httle crazy villagers are ignorant about any legend of after her marriage. She used to tear her gar" this deity. ments and abuse passers by. She waS at-l According to Kangra District Gazetteer tended by many chelas but :10 ?ne c?uld cure (1924-25), "The very marked features of the her. At iast a chela of Panana ~elty came hill religion is the cleot Sidha stones to be from Suket who invoked the blessmgs or the seen every way side and before thousands of God. Only then she recovered. So goes' the cottc.ges. The stones are i~ ~he form of the local story. impress of two feet. TradltlOn says. that· a Chela (Discip.le) of Gor~7dt nat~, whIle pas Narsing Bi7' also is a woman's deity a~ turing cattle used to dnnk theIr cattle ~ry. though it is worshipped by men as well. SO IS They went in their distress to a great mIra Lakhaclata. cle worker who watched the lad and found out the truth. To get rid of him he throw Household deities called thakurs are wor away his stick and ordered him not to shlPped in Brahmin households. ~tone, cl.ay return till he found it. But the boys powers and brass images of Rama, Knshan, 51ta of finding it was greater than the master~ Radha and Ganesh are brought from places power of making it disappear an? h.e found of pilgrimage. TheIl; thes.e are kept by it at once. The miracle worker, fmdmg that Bralimin families m theH houses. These a greater than he had appeared. sought to ~re worshipped daily with flowers. dhoop and kill the lad, but he ran away and th~ hill drub grass. 33 Brahmin. househol~s were side opened and a.dmitted ~i~: There ,:S the possessing thakurs in their homes wh1ch they headquarter of h1S worshIp ,In HamlTpur wroshipped daily. Tehsil near Chakmoh village and fr~m thete the worship spread all over the neIghbour The people of this side hav~ faith in per hood. A light used to appear over the cleft fe'rming !lilgrimage. From Dan thr~e p~rsons and hence the word cleot for cleva (page have visited many places of pdgrImage 212). througbout the country. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 4:5 Other de~ties. believed m by these persons ~~J~hi~ all the same. She left her husband are KhawaJa Ptr, Santaina, Haria Devi Mata girl . a.rned Pistu. Since she was a dancing .and Nar. section of Scheduled' Caste D~ola. somev~fs~h ofbher love affair have become has great falth In Khawaja Pir and a fast is e est known songs around here. obse~ved as a n,'lark of rememberance. No detaIled acco~nt in respect of these gods 1. IG:ana pitta nand le.ina. bo Gambhrie could be obtamed. Khawaja Pir is short name Khatta ui kluma 10 lllithha. l1i khaI1l1 of Khawaja .Kizar who according to Muslim Khane bagan de ke1e ni (;anlbhrie ~ythology IS the presidi.ng deity of alli (ii) Bandla pamalia Khadi Kawalia rIvers, khads. The Daolas worship it bcc[luse G~rm.ian ~aundian P[lkhwa jhulwe Pistu they work in wc.ter either as gharatis. fish ~I Gambrlc khane hagan de kele -ermen or timbler floaters. Nag is 'believed to be a snake deity. He rules the snakes and Viii) Khasam mare kci hoI' ghat karie his ocdso~onal worship ensures protection Dewar mare kian raina ne Gembrio from snake bites. Santaina is the goddess of Khanc bagaullo kcle ni Cambrie clouds. Mata denotes Durga and goddess of \il') Itapre phate main dal'zie te seawan 'Small-pox. Dil jo phate ldan seena ni Gambrie Ancestor worship is common. The le8ding Khane bagan do kcle ni gambhrie idea behind this is that deads acquire merit 'franslation:- from the pious actions of the living mem bers of the family. During Shradhs food is Eat, drink [tllli be merry, served to Brahmins and relatives in memory o beautiful Gambhri. of the ancestors. Another form is to build You need hardly relish a chabootra around a pipal or a Ban1Jan tree things sour and sweet, by the way-side for traveller to rest. This "'hen sweet and soft banana~ me.,y be of stones. A few may plant it pipal Yon have enough to eat. or Banyan tree. When. thi.s grows up a chaboo.tra is erected around. Though path to bandla Is diffioult and. steep, Songs Why worry sweet heart Giti-A giti is a small song: Though each Pistu lulls you to sleep. stanza is different from the other yet the E,~t d.rink and be IDelTY on sweet Gambhri last words of each line is i.n rhyme. Here c!re Let the wretched husbanrl die some typical gities. These may even be Another can be had, known as gangies. 'rom clothes can be mended ~~ m ~ i{l:rr ~ But not a broken heart +K-t ~ ~ 6~ mrt ~'1~~ ~T #rTf Eat, drink and be merry 0 sweet Gmubhd. A vest is lying Oil the roof of your hut We are not afraid of fighting and will fight with a sword MOHAN'S SONG int" death ..ro tt ~QJW people were moved by this tragic death of Ohmnds- During sirguindi ceremony in marriage th& Mohan. The common villager immortalised Brahmin bridegroom ha~ to narrate soma Ohhands. Some of him through this song. * tll~ typical Okhands are given here. 1. Siri Sutra Jetha puha ~ ;:fr fum 3;fT If)~ ~ ;:fr ~ N arag chola silsua Sabad singha, bhdiy& Chhand bol juei·ya. ~ fmr ~ ~ Q ;:fr ROO :? Chhand bolyan maha nanelg ~~ ~lf~T.~fm Sita baya.i Ram Chamlc ihT fu"<"i" ~ ~ if~ ~ lIIauliya chon bed rachi Pavn pani magar makhi m Popular Sayings 3. Itni ki titri jiTe jire aand 1. Siyane re galaira to. amle do. swad siyan-e manuan Toni ke mooi-na-bharai pichhe te yad aunda. (Just as an amla gives rand real taste when it· has been eaten similarly an old man's advice is valued after the events. (~.small butterfiy has tiny-teeth. After ago This saying is told when one suffers due to nIzmg the elders this widow did not die. non-acceptance of the advice given by elders. (A wasp). 2. Jitte kukar ni uthi dot ni (There are no 4. Poipal ta dubya san-e chundiya Hath mal mornings where there are no cock§). The mal nha-e story behind this saying is that once a cock told men that if it did not crow there would Ghra na doob-e auli chiree dharyaee ja-e be no morhin~s. One day out of jealousy the (A pipal was drowned from top to bottom cock kept silent taking for granted. that but there was not enough water to wash there would be no morning. To his surprise hands. So much so that a bottom of a pitcher there was morning. The saying is told when was not wet and a sparrow could not quench some one boasts about his success. - its thirst. (Indicates dew drops). 3. Moote ch macfJ,hiyan ni talondian. (Fish Witch-craft-According to Kashi Ram of cannot be fried in urine) is use a when some Dabhla some ten years ago it was a common one tries at big job with small investment. belief that diseases occurred due to the wrath and annoyance of the deities. This 4. A couplet: belief is fast disappearing and now people Pandit vaid, mashalachi tinon chatur mostly seek the advice of doctors or vaids kah-e Loken jo dind-e chanani appoo at Ghamarwin. However, chelas of deities nehre jae. a!e still. held in great esteem and their as SIstance IS sought to find out cause of ill-fate Learned person, a vaid and a torch bearer The chela adopts two ways to find it out. . lead others but suffer themselves. A palidit foretels the future of others but is not cer The chela burns some incense and mustard tain about his oWn "future. A vaid gives seeds on embers. Some beat a thali and medicines for ailing persons. A torch bearer danroo. During this process the chela shakes shows light to others but himself. his body violently. When he has done this !or a while it is considered that he has gone 5. J at muhasril-brahman sah mto trance a.nd is possessed by the deity. Then he answers the queries and attributes Baniya hakim keher khuda the reason to a particu1ar deity. He advises It is nothing short of divine curse if there s0I?-e . ways and means out from the trouble. be a Jat accountant, a Brahman moneylender ThIS lSI known as chele-da-khelna. and a Baniya administrator because it is In other method the reason may be found sure to create chaos. by the chela by thrOwing grains on the fioor 6. Ker-.e raje paur bajeer chatta faqui1·. He WOUld. name a particular deity and thro; The sowmg through lines is raja i.e. best some grams on . t~e fioor. If the grains are transplanting is wazir, i.e. 2nd best and of odd numbers It IS presumed that the deity broad ca~ting jaqir i.e. poor result. Though ~fter whose name the grains were thrown the saymg condemns the broadcasting IS not annoyed. If the grains are round of method of sowing yet it is the universally eyen n~mber. the reason of the ill luck or accepted way of sowing in the region. dll~ease IS attn~uted to the displeasure of that delt:>:". The gra~ns are thrown again and again Some typical riddles- nammg a particular deity till these are found of even number. When this has been found 1. Ik khet ti bara banne out he may suggest some remedy to appease iki iki boote ti ti ganne the deity which may be- (There is a field which has twelve corners Sacri~cing a cock or goat to appease boundries, each plant in the field has thirty hrm. sugarcanes-the year). Offering of Tote. 2. Man jammi ni put chTtani charya Pilgrimage to a particular place or thai (There was no existence of the mother but of the deity. her sin was on the roof. (Fire and smoke}. Giving or charity to a Brahmm. Reg. No.-8 48 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE Obtaining an armlet or amulet. These 4. To see a snake indicates some trouble are obtainable for child troubles and for the house. To kill a snake indicates put on around the neck to protect surrender of the enemy. To see a snake' the child from evil influence. biting is a good omen. Keeping of sarson seeds given by tne' 5. To sell foodgrains is bad but to buy chela. is good. Offering mantras by the chela before the 6. To ride a horse indicates bright fu.ture. person who is affected. 7. To see or to pluck a . fruit by a women According to villagers chelas are represen in the dream means happy child birth. tatives of the deities. They can protect vic 8. To weep is a good omen while to be tims from the wrath of deities by ajfopting happy and tq laugh indicates troubles. methods to appease them. This methdq of treatment is resorted to in case of mental 9. The sale of .livestock portends loss of troubles, hild drseases, skin disease, barren wealth while the purchase indicates pros ness or when epid€mics, break out affecting perity, human beings and cattle. There are no expert Omens-Journey-One must not proce~d faith curers and hence they are called from on a journey the same day if he is called other villages. back just when he was to start. It foretells that the journey would end fruitless. A spell to treat scorpian bite: Ath tangam thai katin 2. To take some gur or curd before pro Bichho jharan sol jatin ceeding on journey ensures a happy safe journey. The mission would be fulfilled. Jhar jae to jhar dean Nin tan nil kanth chgal dean. 3. If by chance, a shoe is placed Or seen over the other shoe it is believed that a Treatment for hydrdphobia-When rabies long journey is forthcoming for a 'member afflicts a man or an animal they usually go of the hquse. to a Rajput at'Maryoli-village some eight miles from Dabhla Dari. The Rajput house 4. To see a widow, hearing some one hold has been told a secret by a saint that a sneezing, to meet a person carrying empty particular herb cures hydrophobia. When vessel on starting a journey is a bad omen. ever anyone suffers from the disease they 5. To ensure a good journey kumbh is get medicines from him. This treatment is organised. A girl will fill L1 lota of water believed to be efficacious. Nothing is charge and stand near the house on a path where ed for the medicine. one should pass her on the journey. He would put some coins in the Iota which go Superstitions to the girl. Villagers observe omens and belie'fs in their daily life. Dreams, snakes and crows Other Omens-Lucky and unluck actions have certain significance. These according and things:- to them foretell the coming events. 1. Sundays and Thursdays are unlucky days for shaving and cutting hair. One must Dreams-Omens-To see- a marriage party not shave during the month when one was in a dream foretells misfortunes. To see a born. Shaving during shradhs is a taboo. relative attired as bridegroom means the -death of a close re'lative in the near future. 2. Never give salt to a person on his hand On the contrary to see a funeral procession otherwise the person who takes it would in a dream is considered lucky. To see a liv go under debt. ing person as dean in the dream enhances his 3. Don't hang a scale on your shoulders. longivity. To see a dead person in dream Otherwise a famine is sure to start. meansl that he has not achieved salvation and in such casesl the priests may recom 4. It is a bad omen to see an upturned mend some charity or recitations. shoe. 5. To rub oil on Sunday on the body is 2. To see a place on fire in a dream por sinful. It. should invariably be applied on tends abnormal loss due to natural calami Saturdays. ties. 6. To see a broom-stick kept standing by 3. To give charity in dreams foretells some other person is a bad omen. It is be about rise of prices of daily necessities. lieved to invite quarrel. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 49 7. It is a good omen for all purposes if 10. A couplet goes: one sees a baby sucking his thump. Bhari dopehri jamboo bole S. To see a partridge, a peacock, a sHake Ratin bole !rag, Or a fox on the left while starting on busi Is mulkha ni rehna raja ness is lucky. Uthana bare bhiyag 9. If a crow caws near the house in an unusual way a guest is expecte~. Where howling of jackal is heard during the day or cawing of crow during night 10. To eat grams on Sundays is bad. On don't stay or live in that land. Get up early Saturdays i~ is good, because such an action in the morning to leave the land if by chance is believed the offset the evil effect of Saturn you have spent the night there quite ignorant of Shamii. of these facts. Because these things are bad 11. After bath it is good to stand out and omens. ..4Jffer water to the sun. 11. Do not sleep keeping your head to 12. It is bad to eat i.n a broken thali. wards the south. 13. A shopkeeper won't sell on credit in the 12. A man becomes a donkey in his next morning otherwise th{! whole day is bound life if he does not gamble on Dewali is the to be unlucky and unprofitable. belief prevailing among gamblers. Popular actions and beliefs-I. Never 13. Kansa the bronze attracts the lighten. sweep the house in the evening when the ing. According to a legend Devki-the wife lamps are being lit. It is bad as it is the time of Vasudev, father of Lord Krishna was the for the goddess of wealth-Lakshmi to visit. sister of the demon king Kans. Kans had 2. Don't pluck green things after sunset, been told that a baby from Devki would kill as the green plants go to sleep by this time. him and retrieve the kingdom from demons. So Kang put his sister behind bars and 3. Before taking the first morsel from the ordered the guards to snatch and kill her morning meal a person would keep apart child. three bits of his food out of his plate for a cow, crow and a dog. Otherwise these repo~t Sometimes afterwards Devki gave birth! about the miserliness of the person to hIS to a daughter. The king ordered the child to ancestors who curse and condemn him. be killed by striking against a stone. No 4. During menstruation period a woman sooner the child was struck against the stone is considered unclean and untouchable. She she slipped from the hands of the guard and becomes pure on the fourth day when she became lightening. Since then, out of enmity has had a bath and has changed her clothes. the lightening destroys kansa-the metal named after the demon king. 5 If one sees the face of a quarrelsome per~on first thing in the morn.ing, the entire . 14. M~n do not weild t.he broom. Sweep day is bound to pass unhappily. mg dunng dusk and at mght is also a taboo. 6. Don't wear gold ornaments below ankles as it arises the jealously of Lakshmi the 15. A folk saying:- goddess of wealth. Chhikl' l1ahayc chhikc khayl' chhike ralIyl' W{', 7. The villagers believe that the earth rests Chhil-c bat na hantliya bha(ln surp SOIlC thCi,llOO upon the horns of a sacred bull. The bull supports the earth upon each hor)} alter Sn~ezing is good for bathing, eating and nately. When the bull feels tired he shifts sle~pmg. Bl:lt never proceed On a journey the burden from one horn to the other and whIle sneezmg even If there is a chance to during this change the earth-tremours. This get plenty of gold. is the .earthquake. S. The rainbow is a servant of God. When Birth-A child born in Kartika is con the rains stop the rainbow is sent to earth to sidered bad. The bad effect can be warded verify whether the requisite. rain fall in a off if grains are given in charity. attamed Or not. :(larticular area has been The birth of a calf in Bhadra colt in 9. It is a sin if a cow dies with a rope rOLlnd Chaitm and buffalo calf in Magha is a bad the neck. So when a cow is sick it is let loose omen. Precautions have to be taken from a to avoid death with a rope round her neck. priest to ward off the evil influence. 50 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LtFE A folk saying about births reads: The Vazir of the rala felt jealous of the :.\£aghe dhanwati kallya-Phagun suhagan bhabhet, crazy raja and wanted to kill him and Baisakhe Jethll pati raton baJa.bha usurp .his throne. He had hatched a cons piracy with the barber of the Raja. The A girl born in Magha month sball have a Vazir had told him that he should cut the life free from poverty. A Phalguna born throat of the raja while shaving him in the girl will never become a widow. She will be morning. Having disposed of the king the loved much by her husband if born during Vazir would assume the charge of the king the months of Baisakha and Jyaistha. dom as raja and appoint the barber as his Vazir. Folk Tales Next day when he woke up the raja sent \ . ... for the barber. Then the barber had an op Folk tales provide amusement to cfiildren. portunity to make the conspiracy, a success. They hear such tales from old women. Some Be took a long sharpl razor to shave the raja. interesting folk tales are given here. The raja sat and the barber began to rub his face with a little water before shaving. The fOlk tabe of a king-Once there was a Later on he rubbed his razor bver his palm king. He was very fond of hearing new and began shaving. He had shaved upto his things. When nothing was left to be told by throat wh~n the barber again began to his subjects he proclaimed that any person sharpen his razor by rubbing it over the who would compose a couplet will be re palm. The raja constantly thinking c.bout warded a taka of gold provided it is new the a:mbiguous couplet and in his mood he .and uncopied. spoke. A poor Brahmin who had never seen a Ghas ghasai phil' ghasc gluts ghas ]aj pani, ta7ca of gold during his life felt surprised. Jis bidh too ghas6,sch, hidh main jani But cursed himself that in spite of being a The barber immediately concluded that Brahmin he was not able to compose poetry. the raja had the information about the cons He thought whether he could compose poetry piracy and was addressing this couplet to or not he would be free to hear such pieces him. His face became pale on hearing the ()f art in the darbar where persons would be last words "J[is bidh too ghase seh bidh main -coming to recite couplets to the raja. jani". He lost conttol over himself and fell the feet of raja saying. "It is not I but the So one day he undertook a journey to a.t Vaz~r who has directed me to kill you by wards the capital. Due to the scorchin~ heat cuttmg your throat", land begged pardon. The ()f sun he sat under a tree on the way side raja ordered him to tell everything frankly to rest. Near the tree there was a water and fearlessly. The barber told him the en pond. The buffaloes entered the pond, rolled tire story of the conspiracy. themselves in the mUddy water of the pond and came out. On the ground the buffaloes The raja was happy that his life had been would again roll upon as they felt uneasy saved by the couplet of the Brahmin. At with mud. He saw this fun for a short while noon he found the Brahmin present in the and then composed this couplet:- dar bar. He called him and rewarded him generously. The barber was impl'isoned and Ghas ghasai phir ghase .ghas ghas ]aj pani, the Vazir. executed. JiB bidh too ghase seh bidh main jani. The idea behind this story is that chance "You are rubbing and 'rolling on the plays a great role in human life. Man ground again and again. The cause of proposes, God disposes. rubbing and rolling yourself on the ground 2. A Folk Tale-A man and a lion (Sade is known to me. You are feeling the tin hatha kane ser)-In this story it has been itch". He murmured it again and again. He shown that the man is the God's most thought that if the raja could like it he superior creature. He may not possess would become rich. So he continued further enough strength for his protection but one in the hope of getting a taka of gold from thing, 'brain, possessed by him has been the Raja.. deprived to other creatures. He reached the city at night. Immediately A human being has been called here sade he went to raja and narrated his couplet. tin hatha or of three and half arms length. Considering that the Brahmin was a poor It is said that the height of every pel'son man he was told to attend the darbar next is three and half arms when measured by day' so that the Brahmin was not dis his own hath-the length from below t'o hearted. middle finger tip. :SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 51 There lived a lioness in a jungle. She related to me. You may kill me or eat my ~ave birth to a little cub. He was very flesh but I must return home. From there proud of his strength. Once he said to his 1 will bring, some ornamentl:! to present to mother, "Is there any more powerful crea your mother'. But the lion turned down his ture than me in this universe". His mother request saying "1 am well aware of the replied, "Yes. "Sade .tin hatha". "Beware of tricks of "sa de tin hothas". You want to es him". He said, "Alright, Mother; I will bring cape. In case 1 ~llow you to go you will ne.ver .a "sade tin hatha" and kill him before you. return. So don t mind and leave the idea of Then you will agree that lion is the most ornaments". The man followed him. :powerful creature in the universe". At last they reached the side of ravine So he set out in search of a "sade-tin which was in spate. The lion jumped and hatha". He first met a donkey and said to crossed to the other side. The woodcutter him; ' Similarly the Scheduled Caste people offer The' Scheduled Castes are denied the use salutations. To a. Brahmin he would salute of common water source. In early days they first saying "Matha Tekda". The Brahmin were subjected to more social injustices. A would greet him with 'Raji Reh', meaning man belonging to this class could not go "be hale and healthy". A Harijan woman bare-headed. He could not sit on a cot along would first put off l}er shoes, come two or with a Swarn. Harijans had to render begar three stepS! forward and bow by putting to the ruler and to the villagers. At com., her finger on the forehead saying "Ma,tha munity feasts he was served last and that Tekdi Ji". The members of the same caste too out of the premises. ( and of the same age would utter "peri pai" to each other. Women usually embrace each Conditions have changed much. The insti tution of be gar has been abolished. In the other ~hi1e parting away or meeting. social sphere some change is felt by the Scheduled Castes. They move bare neaded_ Now due to the schooling of children and Swarns do not object to this. A Harijan outside influence people greet the outsiders may not though sit on the same cot with a with Nameste and Jai Hind. Salutations SWarn but he gives a separate charpoy to are not observed at all when one goes to the Swam and may sit on a cot before a offer condolences to a bereaved family. Swarn. During tl1e entire period of mourning sal11~ tations are not offered, While going out the Harijans feel the change. He can go to a hot(;!l and eat along Daily Hfe-The daily life of a villager with others. At Ghamarwin he takes milk whether Tir:h, poor oI.1 craftsman begi,ns at the hCLtwai's shop without any discrimi- with the morning puff of hooka. It is a must nation. Within the village certain young and no one goes without it. After leaving the men were found telling that though they bed (Summer 5-00 A.M. and in winter 6-30 are not in favour of untouchability they A.M.) one would like to smoke hooka and' had to practise it for fear of elders. In spend 15 minutes on cleaning it and putting schools Harijan children have equal oppor~ tobacco and then putIing on it. It is a great tunity with others. pastime. While smoking, a person won't like to give his stem to another who belongs At Dabhla there are two baolies from to a lower caste, Scheduled Castes cannot where clean drinking water is obtained. tOllch a hoolca belonging to a person of One is used by Chamars and the other by higher caste. Other Non-Scheduled Castes Brahmins, The Daoiasl do not take water' • may smoke the hoo1ca without the stem. from the' baoli of Chamars while Brahmins The women would lit the kitchen fire after do not allow them to take water from their leaving the bed and cook dal or vegetables. own baoli. Daolas may take water from a Men and women may then go out to fetch dirty baoli. So Daola girls wait on the baoH water. of Brahmins. Whenever a Swarn comes he pours water in the pitcher of Daola with his pitcher. An sections of Scheduled Castes By this time the children wake up. They practise untOUChability among themselves, are served some food reserved from the past evening. During harvest season in AboUt jon of Um,touchability-Some people May-June and August-September the mem are not aware of the law banning untouch bers who go out for work take datialu. The ability. Out of 54 Brahmin infclrmants 49 women keep themselves busy doing house were aware of this law. Among Scheduled hold duties, bringing fire-wood 'and fodder Castes 24 informants were aware while 8 from the fields:- Preparing toad is done were not aware of such measures. These entirely by llous~wives e~cept on certain are old men who seldom go out and are not days when they may be sick Or during the concerned with such affairs. unclean period. They usually go to bed by 9-00 P.M. in winter and 10-00 P.M. in Functioning of Democratic lnstitutions summer. Matters arising, out of cattle tress-pass, field demarcations, family quarrels and minor disputes are referred to a committee of The concept of Untouchability elders for decision which generally result The Brahmins may be considered the in reconciliation. orthodox section. Untouchability is in one During February, 1962 it was decided by' form: or the other practised by all the no,!:- the village community to organise a feast Scheduled Castes, - to avert the evil effects of the conjunction SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 53 -of eight planets. ::5ince the feast had to be these are constituted unless the issue does held on contributions, the share of each not fall within the purview of the village family was fixed accox-ding to his paying panchayat. ' ·capacity. One family did not join saying that fixation of share is against the very The statutory Gram Panchayat of principle of contribution and did not give Dabhla Patwar Circle is functioning at his share. He was not ready to hear as to Kothi since 31st January, 1957. It represents how much he should contribute. According 19 villages with a population of 3,260 per to his view point the contribution should sons. The membership is 25 excluding the .have been voluntary and that one's sweet I:resident and Vice-President. Six members will should be the sole criteria to judge his have been elected out of Scheduled Castes, paying capacity. The organisers of the feast while four seats are held by women, Dabhla told him that whatever share had been Dari is represented by three members out fixed could not be reduced as everyone of which one belongs to Scheduled Castes. would try to contribute less and less and The election to these Pa,nchayat is very the function would become a failure. The simple. Members were elected uncontested. man did not agree and refused to contri The spokesmen of the communities who are bute. influential nominate their representatives for The organisers met and approached the election. They are not opposed. ' influential men of the village. They dis The Panchayat functions under the -cussed the issue with the party who was not Himachal Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act of willing to obey the decision already arrived 1952. The powers, functions and jurisdictions ,at. Hot words were exchanged and the of Panchayats have been described in the -defaulter was told clearly either he should Act. give his fixed share or be ex-communicated. The Gram Panchayat entertained 28 So much so that he was informed that water cri:rninal and 12 civil cases during the last from the common source would also be three years from 8th November, 1958 to refused to him. The person concerned then 26th December, 1961. During this period bad to come to his knees and agreed to abide there were appeals in 6 cases. Only in one by the decision. Such is the force that this case the contesting parties were not satis body of elders wields. fied, They went to court. With the establishment of statutory Pan . The budget estimates of Dabhla Gram chayat, these informal committees have re Panchayat are given below showing finan ceded into background. It is seldom that cial position of the Panchayat: Income Expenditure YelLr' 1960·61 Rs. Rs. 1. Arrears for realislLtion 1,480 1. Pay and allowances 960 2. Grant as pay and allowances 780 2. Stationery • iJO '3. Stationery Grant 3. School building • 6,000 4. Subsidy for school building 3,000 4. Construction of- 5. Subsidy for the construction of baoHs 1,000 (a) Chabootra 1,000 (b) Roads 3,650 ,6. Subsidy for drains and link road 1,750 (c) Kuhl~ ., .' 2,000 (d) BaoUs 2,000 '7. Income from community fair 50 (e) Drains . 000 8. Subsidy for the construction of kuhl and 50 5. Community fair. • • • . • 150 chabootra.. 6. Contribution towards Employees Provident Fund 100 9. Local rate 726'13 10. Fees 134·50 7. :Miscellaneous 188 11. Shramdan 7,250 S. Unforeseen charges 322'63 54 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE- Budget estimates· for the year 1961-62 disease' free seed gives better crops and e.r_ have been given in appendix. sures protection from diseases like black rust. In 1960-61 and 1961-62, more than 35 and The two statements show that Pancha 113 maunds of seed was treated respectively yat's biggest income is received from in the Gram Sewak circle. go~ernment by way of subsidies and grants. It is mostly spent on -welfare works. Even To meet the shortage of improved seed 5 ~n Dabhla the Panchayat has constructed maunds of paddy seed and 35 maunds of two baolis. A kulbl is being constructed. On wheat seed was exchanged in 1960 in the being completed this will irrigate 2 acres circle. Under this scheme some keen far- of land and it Would be possible to g-rQw mers are supplied improved seed. When the potatoes. At present potatoes are not grown crop is harvested they exchange the pro in the area due to lack of irrigation. duce with the local varieties of. grains. The' The villagers are generally satisfied with farmers exchanging improved variety reo . the Panchayat. Some members do not take ceive Re. 1 per maund as premium. intereslt. They do not attend the Panchayat New varieties of paddy T. 21, China 13 meetings. For a meeting on the 24-1-62 and China 988 have been introduced. Im only 12 out of 27 members were present~ proved varieties of wheat like redley, NP~ 809, NP. 829 and NP. 792 have been sown. Community Development The results were encouraging. NP. 829 is an early maturing variety and grows satis The villages are covered under Ghamar factorily even in the case of less rainfall. win Community Development Block. The Following are some of the distribution' programme aims at revolutionizing the out figures of improved seeds in ~he circle. look of the people in social and economic spheres. The villagers have felt some 1. Wheat ,distributed in October and change. But they have developed an outlo.ok November, 1960-1 md. 38 srs. that it is for .the Government to proV1'de 2, Wheat distributed in 1961-2 mds. basic amenities like minor irrigation chan 3. Wheat distributed in 1963-40 mds. nels better seeds, basic medical facilities, and' proper education for their childre? Horticulture-Common fruit trees grown But on their own part they hesitate to con in the are The baoLi at Dari was constructed in 1956- . FO'r tanning leather the Chamars use kacha 57 at a total cost of Rs. 840.00. Out of this chabachas or pits. The quality of tanned amount Rs. 240 were paid by the Block leather is inferior. To improve their lot the agency while the rest of the amount was Block agency had sanctioned an amount of paid by the beneficiaries in labour and cash. Rs. 1,677.00 in 1962-63 for the construction Two baolis each at a cost of Rs. 1,500 of improved type of pits. The cost of the were constructed at Dabhla. In one case the project has been divided between the bene beneficiaries contri.buted Rs. 900 while in ficiaries and block agency .on 50 : 50 basis. the other, which was used by the caste Hindu, they contributed Rs. 1,050 in labour Similarly an irrigation well was ,to be and cash. Th()ugh the sources of drinking constructed in 1962-63 at a cost of Rs. 4,254 water have been improved villagers don't and 50 per cent share was to be paid by the clean them regUlarly. On inquiry they would Block. always shift the responsibility to their fellow yillagers saying that they do not co operate. They may even go to the extent An irrigation kuhl had been constructed that the Government should do this work. at Dabhla in 1962-63 at a cost of Rs. 947. In other words th~y feel that the Govern The Block agency co,ntributed Rs. 700 to· ment should entrust such functions to cer wards this proiect and the area to the extent tain villagers whp should be paid by the of 2 acres has been brought under irriga. Government.. tion. M/J(N)23COHP-9 5. Conclusion During a brief stay in .the v_illage one But the account given above does not gathers that to impro-ye thelr 10.t ~s not easy. mean that no progress in any sphere has To quote an example 1t was decIded by some been made and the village is there where villagers to hold a co~munity ~east on it stood before independence. Remarkable contributory basis to avoId the bad mfiueI_lce achievements .hmre made lin malaria con of the conjunction of eight planets whIch trol, education, transport and communica were going to assemble during the first tions. week of February, 1962. Within three ~ays It is said by the villagers that before 5 maunds of rice, 2 maunds of pulses besldes independence it was a custom to Rs. 112 in cash were collected for the pur collect three months ,provision of a pose and all arrangements made on the diet consisting of mung-ki-dal and wheat fixed day. But they do not cooperate to flour to fight malaria fever in sum clean a baoli or to contribute towards the mer. It was a common belief that installation of water taps in the village or this diet can reduce the severity of fever to constructing another bao~i for Daolas. A u great extent. It is an admitted fact. That mentality has developed that it is the fun~ due to the prevalence o~ malaria sometimes tion of the Government to look after theIr they eQuId not harvest their standing crops welfare. They may be heard comp~aining as all the members were down with fever. that so called proper treatment IS not But now such cases are things of the past. received in hospitals but th~y seldon: In fact the intensive D.D.T., spraying scheme realise that they too have certam responSI has eradicated all flies, mosquitoes and bilities in respect of sanitation. So much so other insects. The destruction of mosquitoes that they would not like to keep the cow has resulted in eradication of malaria. In dung in manure pits though they would not .:dditinn the malaria surveillance workers hesitate to blame the Government for the keep S'::J much vigilence that a malaria case spread of flies in summer. Shortage of is immediately detected and given top fodder and firewood is attributed to the so priority of treatment either at home by the called restrictions imposed by the forest worker himself or in the hospital (Public department, but they do not take the trouble Health Centre) at Ghamarwin. Such mea either to cultivate fodder grasses or plant sures adopted by Government though trees on barren lands. Causes of their back seldom catch the eye of village folks yet wardness are attributed to so called poverty. they take it as a major blessing of post inde" Yet they may spend lavishly on useless pendenee era. functions, such as deaths, births, and mar riages. Children are not sent to school on Progress is being gradually made in the the plea that there is none to look after the sphere of education and has been discussed household duties although education up to fully in the last pages. fifth class is free. Complaints may be heard This shows that though war against illi about the poverty due to low yield from teracy is not going on successfully yet some land but they would never like to apply success has definitely been achieved. Two chemical fertilizers saying that fertilizers persons were found receiving higher techni destroy the land in the long run. cal educatiOJ;l out of the State, It. wac; re- 56 CONCLUSION 57 vealed that one person is reCeIVIng educa Kandraur and Bhakra which previously tion in civil engineering. op~rated only between Bilaspur and Bhaltra. ThIS account clearly shows improvement in Similar are the benefits of Panchayat. communications too. During the year 1961 no case falling under the jurisdiction of Panchayat went to the Thus one may feel satisfaction about the court. The parties preferred to lead a har change taking place there though progress monious life and the 'Panchayat helped them is slow. Spread of education through schools in reconciling cases. This means that not a and adult literacy centres will wipe out the single paisa was spent upon litigation. The ignorance consequently resulting in a better activities of leather co-operative cannot be and easy life. minimised. They will also, in due course, learn the advantages of better farming with better The facilities of 'transport and communica seeds and chemical fertilizers. This should tions have increased tremendously. Prior change their way of life as more income to independence there was only one bus from agriculture which is their mainstay ,service upto Ghamarwin which has now should help in providing them more ameni become an important traffic centre. From ties. It is not easy to change the orthodox here' buses to all parts of Himaclial and mode of life and the fatalistic attitude of Punjab can be had now. Previously going the people in so short a time. But the wheel to. Simla was considered a problem due to of change has started moving and it is ex lack of means of communication. But now pected that the villagers who till lately they can reach Simla on 'the same evening. were considered backward would in the With the completion of Bhakra Reservoir near future acquire their rightful place direct motor boat service is p~ying between among well-to-do farmers. ' 58 Appendices APPENDIX I The Foundation of the State of Bilaspur* .The founder of BilasPllr State was Raja all overcome. These were-Baghal Kunihar Ell' ,Chand, a ca?et of the Cha~del Rajput Beja, Dhami, Keonthal, Kotha;, Jubbal: famIly, then rulmg Chanden m Bandel. Baghat, Bhajji, Mailog, Mangal and Balsan. khand. The ruler of the State at the time was Tribute was impo d th d th Harihar Chand who had five sons, named! 1 d ~e ~pon em an ey ' b' d C'h d B' Ch d G b' Ch d were a so un er oblIgatIOn to render feudal (.)'0 m an, Ir an am Ir an , . h d d ' Ch d d S b' Ch' d L . h' serVICe w en summone an to attend for KabIr an an a lr an. eavmg. IS the re t r f th . ancestral kingdom in the possession of his . .p sen a IOn 0 elf .nazars .at the yearly ld h II d . h . Sam or Autumn J alsa m Asu] The yearly e est son, e trave ~ north, Wlt . hIS ot~er tribute amounted to Rs 7800 . d ·t' 'd SQns and an army, mto the Pan]a9, bemg was ai . '. ,.an 1 1 IS .S~l supern"turally guided as the Binod states ~ d down to the begmnmg of BntIsh "', , rule m 1815 by the goddess of flame at Jwalamukhi in '. Kangra. After reaching the hills they con- With the aid of the Ranas and Thakurs. quered a place called Jhandbhari, now in Bir Chand invaded Sirmur and annexed a Hoshiarpur, and having built a fort settled portion of that State and fixed the boundary there for a time. They then went on to Jwa. at ~orakhgarh. lamukhi to pay their devotions at the shrine. He also ,took one pargalla from Hindur; Nadaun being near, a visit was paid to the the~ under older rulers, and fixed his boun- Raja of Kangra, then resident there. When dary at Manaswal in the Dun. The Satluj engaged in the game of tent-pegging during was also' crossed and a portion of territory the visit, the youngest of the four brothers, annexed on the right bank, called Dhar-kot. named Sabir Chand, was thrown from his Bir Chand was followed a number of horse and killed. -This was attributed, to l:iy Rajas of whom we know only the names.' treachery on the part of the Kangra Raja, These were, Udhran Chand, Jaskarn Chand, and an encounter in which he and led to M adanbrahm Chand, Ahl Chand, Kahil Harihar Chand were both killed. Bir Chand Chand, Slar Chand, Men Chand, Sen Chand, then assumed command of the force and re tired to the Satluj Valley, where he con Sulkhan Chand, Kahn Chand. quered a territory from the local rulers and The last of these, being the eleventh in settled on the left bank. descent from Bir Chand, conquered Hindur Being guided by some propitious signs to and gave it to his second son, Sujit Chand, a site for his capital he built a temple to from whom the ruling line of Hindur oJ! N aina Devi on one of the seven dhars, now N alagarh is descended. called Dhar Naina Devi. At the end of the· Kahn Chand was succeeded by Ajit Chand, hill he erected a fort called Kot-Kahlur, and Gokal Chand, Udai Chand, Gen Chand, founded a t()wn on the plain, called Naina Prithivi Chand and Sangar Chand. The last Devi, as the capital of the new State. had ten sons from whom are descended the The local petty Chiefs were then attacked Darol, Jhandwal, Sangwa, Ghal, Nanglu, and subjected, and an advance was Imade Meghori and Dohkli Mian families, still ex against the Barah Thakuraian, which were tent in the State. *History of Punja.b Hill States Vol. II pages 406 to 408. 59 GO APPENDICES APPENDIX n Death Ceremonies of the HUl Rajas' "When a Raja is near the point of death, soul, and palu, the sustainer or feeder. The a low class Brahman is summoned from some pri~st is the. envelope of the Raja's soul, place outside the State. A dish of sweetened WhICh passes mto his body through the rice and milk is prep~red, at:d when the< spoonful~ of ~wee~ened rice. The Raja, though breath leaves the body a portion of this is dead, shll hves m the human sustainer of placed in the right hand of the corpse. The his soul, and it is to the king and not to the Brahman then approaches and eats of the priest that homage is paid. The Brahman's rice out of the lifeless hand. For each spoon wants and desires are those of the departed ful he swallows he receives a reward of ruler and hence must be gratified at once, fifteen rupees, but the fees earned on such for fear as much as piety accounted for the occasions do not run into an extravagentJ original institution, though now~a-days the amount. He is then dressed in the clothes yeneration of the' dead i!S the idominating and ornaments of the late ruler, is given a nio,t;ive. Nevertheless, the prohibition on the sword, a palanquin and a horse, and is fur Brahman alighting from hils horse is still nished with cooking vessels from the royal ascribed to the belief that, should he do so. kitchen, and with anything else within the late Raja would continue to rule in spirit reason which he may desire. He js lodged over that part of the territory wjthjn view. either in the palace or in building adjacent Similarly, the fear of a conflict of authority to it, and is given as attendants the personal explains the removal outside the State of all servants of the late Raja. In some places he clothes and ornamerire worn by the pret palu is addressed as Raja. He is not allowed to and all gifts acquired by him". leave the residence allotted to him, except "The above interpretation of the banish on special occasions, when he repairs the ment of the Raja's deputy disposes of a theory temple where the services for the dead ch~ef advanced in the Golden Bough. A very brief are held. For a whole year he lives in the account of the custom is their given, and it State as ~Wl\ ihono~d( gues.t, the ilUonthly is suggested that the Brahma,n may have gifts of food offered for the comfort of the been originally a sacrificial victim, slain Raja's soul are copsumed by him. His last vicariously for the Raja, and that, as was feast is on the first anniversary of death when often the case in similar substitutions, the he obtains the barshela, or offerings of cakes extreme penalty was commuted into a sen~ and other food, made in the name of the tence of exile. But although traces of kingly deceased ruler. This he enjoys early i:n the sacrifice are found in the Himalaya, the morning. The s.ame afternoon h~ is escorted institution of the pret palu is not one of with every mark of honour outslde the con~ them. There is no evidence whatever to fines of the State. He is himself mounted show that he was ever slain, and his death, on a horse, but the chief officials who follow in fact, would have defeated the very object him go on foot. The latter throw alms ot of his apPointllfent". copper coins on him as he rides, and having For the above interesting note we are in~ accompanied him a mile or so respectfully debted to Mr. H.W. Emerson, I.C.S., and it ask permission to return. This is formally is probable that the custom was prevalent given but the Brahman is not allowed to in all the Hill States. The procedure, how 4 proceed al?ne. An escort ?f soldi~rs or polic: e,ver, was not ~verywhere uniform. In go with hIm to the front1~r, whIch he mu~" Chamba, for example, the rice and milk cere cross before night-fall. It IS part of. theIr mony is performed at the burning ghat, be~ dutv to see that he does not alight from his fore the ~rpse is placed on the pyre, and horse, and if necessary they must prevent the Brahman is, the same day, m~unted on him from doing so by force. They have also a horse and escorted across the brIdge over to see that he neither gives away nor s~l1s, the Ravi, which is regarded as ~qual to ex within the State territory, any of t~e vanous pulsion from the State, to :vh1Ch he may gifts he has accumulated during hls year of never return. The other portIOn of the ~ere~ office. Once acroSs the border he can never monial procedure is discharged in a modl~ed i form by a branch of a local Brahma~ famIly, retum ! in which the office' has been heredItary fo!' "The explanation of this custom is. contain many generations-(The Golden Bough cThe ed in the title of the Brahf!lan. He .IS knDwn Dying God'-page 154). as the pret palu, pret meanlUg the Immature 1.'Thi~ note lIas been taken from the,Bi$tory of Punjab lIilJ States, Vol. 11. APPENDICES 61 APPENDIXm Dialect SOME SPECIMEN OF THE LOCAL Kehluri equivalent English Kehluri equivalent English Rest Anguish ~ ~-wm Bile fi:Rr Partner mm Brain ~ Value Chlns,eter Jam CoQ,fidenoe f Heriditry fqQf~ Cowdung Humour lT€I"~T Manure Hunger ~ '" Seed Obscene Plant Pain Implements Play Maize Pleasure Sister Practice Mother-in-law ~ purpose Father .ijT~ Respect Daughter-in-law ~ Scope Daughter ll'"'ft '" Taste Neighbour t$IT Touch Pickle ~ Vision Honey ~ Sharp Shirt ~ Utility Bed ~ Worry Quilt ~ Calling Nosering ~~ Hiking Armlet "i~ Scenery Nail Progeny Rib ~ Saving Towel 'TV'fT Income Favour f'fi<..ITT 62 APPENDICES Some sentences in English translated in local dialect:- English Local dialect What is your nume 1 a-u 'FIT ;:IT ~ ? Do you Imow the Lamberdar of your village? ~ ;;rq-Uj- lTicrt ~ ~RfmU ;;rr \ifTUTT ~ ? liow many sons have you? ~=t Cfir q ~ ? What is your mother tongue? (];ill fr ~ qmr cprr ~? Wh tt arJ the prinoipJ.l plaees of interest of your viUage ? (];ill =t APPENDIX V-contd. B-Jinswar statements Kharif (Autumn) and Rabi (Spring) crops Area under Kharif Crops Year Village .. Remarks Paddy Maize Sonph Mung .Kulth Haldi Til Kachalu Mah Koda 1956 Dabhln • 158 383 1 2 8 1 1 5 3 .. Area in Bighas Dari 214 161 ., 6 1 2 4 16 5 Do. 1957 Dabhla 158 394 2 8 1 1 5 30 .. Area in acres Uari 221 165 6 1 2 4 18 5 Do. 1958 Dabhla 23 78 2 .. 1 10 .. Do. Dari· 26 Do. " 41 .. 1 1 8 1 1959 Dabhla • 24 77 2 .. 1 10 .. Do. Dari 28 43 . , 1 .. 6 1 Do. 1960 Dabhla. 24 77 2 .. 1 10 .. Do Dari 28 43 1 .. .. 1 Do. 1961 Dabhla. 28 61 1 15 Do. · Dari 32 33 5 Do. Area under Rabi Crops Year Village r- Wheat Barley Gram ltIasoor Sarson Tobacco Peas Onion Remarks 1956 Dabhla. • Not known Darl Do. 1957 Dabhla. 72 1 18 1 " Area in Bighas Dari 39 .. 13 1 .. Do. 1958 Dahhla 58 1 16 1 1 Area in acres Dari 37 14 1 Do. 1959 Dabhla. 96 19 1 1 1 Do. · Dari 57 15 .. 1 Do. 1960 Dabhla. . 96 . 19 1 1 1 Do. · Dari 59 14 .. 1 Do. 1961 Dabhla 98 1 16 1 1 .. Do. Dari 41 3 1 1 1 Do. APPENDIX V Weights and Measures In rural area internal transactions are kilograms. A batti is of two kilograms now. done ~th local weights. These are: They leel. that calculation through katcha 1 katcha seer or ser =32 tolas man is easier as the are accustomed to such calculations. Cereals and millets 1 pucca Beef oJ: ser == 80 tolas or 2t katcha BeeFS are weighed by kdtcha man. 1 katchaman =16 pucea or 40 katoha. seers The common measure is hath. This is the 1 pucca man ==40 standard seers length between the elbow and the middl~ 1 Khar = 20 katcha man finger of hand. Roughly a hath is taken to be of H feet. 1 batti _2 pucca seers For measuring milk they still use com... 1 Dhari =2 battil! mon pao which is about 250 milliliters. 1 pansera. ",,5 PUCCR seers Measurement of land is expressed in With the introduction of metric system bighas. all other weights except the katcha man and the batti have gone into background. 1 acre 5.39 big has However, katcha man continues to be in use to some extent and is taken equal to 16 1 acre 5.39 bighas M/J()2SCORP-IO 64 APPENDICES APPENDIX VI Gugga Fair of Gherwin Gherv,,'in is three miles from Samoh on On the other side of the temple there may Bilaspur-Jhandhuta motor road in Ghamar be seen stone images of Hanuman, Ganesh, win Tehsil. A jeepable mad connects Devi and Deo. These are of little importance Samoh with Gherwin and the distance ~s. and usually escape the notice of a casual five miles. Through a short- cut, which is visitor. The temple has a flat roof. How and mostly used by pedestrians, Gherwin is when the temple was constructedl i's ,not about four horul"S journey from BilaspUl'l known. But two legends are associated with Town. The Govind Sagar has to be crossed its construction. It is said that a man from through a ferry or motor boat near Bilaspur. Gherwin went to Bagar Des Le. Rajasthan. From the other side of Bilaspur a steep There was a temple of Gugga there. He ascent leads one to a hill top near Salasi brought SOme soil from within the temple village. The view of Govind Sagar is of Gugga. This was first placed in village appealing from Salasi. Therefrom a foot Chamleyo where it denied to stay. Then it path of about three miles leads one to was taken to Gherwin, the present site of Gherwin. the temple and it stayed. Later on a temple In nearabout villages Gherwin is known was constructed at the spot. The images by the name of Guge':da-gran OT' Gugga's were furnished by various devotees at diffe village. This is because great reverence is rent occasions. shown to Gherwin by the villager.s due to According to another story a person went! the Gugga Temple. Some may call the in connection with some business to Kabul. 'village Padagana, a corrupted form of the There he Was caught by ~ribesmen. The word Pa.rgana. tribesmen decided to kill him and he was The temple of Gugga is situated on a hill put in a cell. He prayed to Gugga for his top which overlooks the Govind: Sagar. life. Suddenly the doors opened and the Th~ courtyard of the temple is paved with guards fell asleep. He availed this opportu dre~sed stor..e'S. Outside the temple one nity and hastened back to Gherwin. Reach find~ a crude stone figure of a lion. This is ing here he constructed a Gugga temple out about four feet high and is believed to .be of reverence. The images of Gugga, Gorakh the vehicle of goddess Durga. B~ th~ slde Nath and Phithu Bhadiar are said to have rf the lion there is a bull. But ItS ImpO'ft been installed by him. Some say that the ance is known to none. However, a devotee temple is nearly 500 years old. Later on it' may seldom be seen bowing to the Jlull. was repaired off and on. The major repairs On the other side of the temple there were carried by a local res~dent some 70 may be seen figures of Ganesh and Kelo years back. Batwal. These images are Eleen placed It will be interesting to know the story under a banyan tree. Inside the temple 01 Gugga, based on a popular poetical narra tb€re are objects of worship. These are tion by bards and published by R.C. Temple stone images of: • in his book "Legends of the Punjab, Vol. I". 1. Guru Gorakh Nath: sitting in a Raja Jewer of Bagar had two queens; Bach meditative mood. haL and KachhaL But he had no issue of 2. Nag: A stone image of a snake with any of them to keep up the lineage. Guru raised hood. . Gorakh Nath, known for his miraculous 3. Ghoga: She was a Brahmin. GShe is power, happened to stay in ,the garden of said to be the nurse of ugfJ~'1 Raja Jewer. Queen Bachhal, anxious to have Others say that she wa.s the wlf.~ blessings of Gorakh N ath to get son, wor of Gugga's family purohIt. There IS shipped and served him stealthily in the a sacred bull in front of Ghoga. garden. He was pleased with her services 4. Gugga. He is sitting on the. bac~ ~f and devotion and promised to grant her' a stone horse The horse IS palTli" boon for issue and asked her to come the ed: dark Wue. Besides him is hI,sI next day. Kachhal came· to know of this .and sister. she impersonated for Bachhal and recelved 5. Phithu, Bhad-inr. He 1S said to b€: boon for twins from Gorakh N nth before Gugga's sister's husband. BachhaZ' could visit him. When Bachha~ came and :prostrated) on the feet- of Guru; Hanuman. 6 On the left hand of the he asked her why she had come again w~en. . temple's door there is stone image: she had already been blessed for tWIns. of Hanuman. APPENDICES 135 Bachhal implored that it was not she but thnli. The hands of singers narrate the siorv some other woman hqd deceived him. Satis of Gugga to the accompaniment of these ir:- fied with her innocence Gorakh Nath told 8truments. The household gives them grains her that a son would be born to her who and a rupee or So in offering. would be famous for his bravery and inge nuity. He also cursed KachhaL that she would The party of singers sets out after sunrise. die after the birth of twins. On arrival in a house they are seated on mats. First of all the leader of the party On the other hand Kachhal poisoned the glVes a summary of the narration in plain ears of Jewer against Bachhal who was language which is ,a mixture of their own turned out of the palace. While going to her dlalect, Hindi and Punjabi. Thereafter the maternal house ,at GajIli the oxen of her party Qegins to sing a portion of the life cart were bitten, by a snake and fell dead. history of Gugga. It is mostly the portions Bachhal weeping, lamenting and disappoint or his heroic exploits. Usually a party spends ed at the loss of oxen fell asleep when in about fifteen mInutes in a house. Some ladies dream she heard the voice of unborn Gugga and children ma.y also offer ciish to thE" who asked her to cut a branch of neem tree Chhari. In the evening they return to their and invoke Gorakh N ath to cure the oxen. homes and distribute the collectiuns among She did accordingly and oxen came to life. themselves. This thing goes on upto the day She set on her journey and at last reached of Gugga Naumi. Many people feel that the Gajni Fort where she met her mother and singers have adopted the week as a mean told her the whole story. of begging grlains rather than appeasing Gugga. At Bilaspur some parties consisting In the meantime some miraculous power of children are also seen begging grains told J ewer in his dream to bring back queen from house to house in the name of Gugga. Bachhal as she had not committed anv sin. He went to Gajni Fort and brought her·hack. The preparation of fair begins nn the next On reaching home Gugga was born and day of Gugga N aumi. In 1964 this day fell royal priest 'Predicted that he would be a on the 1st of September. On thiS day Gugga popular and powerful ruler. J ewer was de is entreated upon to be present In the temple. lighted and declared him heir to the throne. It is an invocation to Gugga. 'The function in 1964 started nearabout 10 at night on the Gugga was engaged to Sirial, daughter of next day of Gugga Naumi. Three parties of Brahmins and Rajputs sang bhar:;ts one Raja Sanja of Kamrup. But Jewer died and Sanja considered it inauspicious and broke after another. The attendence which llsed the engagement. But Gugga, with t.he help to be some five hundred a decade ago was hardly sixty this year. The children had out of Tatig Nag who was sent by BasaTe Na~J the King of snakes, succeeded to get the hand numbered the grown ups. The reason is Advocated that the common man is losing of Sirial. faih day by day and the children come just Arjan and Surjan, sons of Kachhal and to have a fun. step brothers of Gugga, demanded share of . Bhal'ats were sung from 10.30 &t night till the kingdom which Gugga refused. At this 2.30 A.M. i.n the morning of the next day. they fought war with Gugga and were slain. Thereafter some thl'ee I)ersons decided tOi Gugga, due to his virtues, was considered c;t(.p the songs and entreated upon rJttgga as god even after his death and is still wor to come shipped. When the entry of Gugga used to be pro From the day of Raksha Bandha'f!, the claimed two goats were also sacrificed out bands jOf devotees ~f different castes like side the temple. But the' practice has al Chamars, Rajputs and Brahmins move from .:nost stopped now due to the rising price's house to house singing heroic exploits and :>f goats. No goat was sacri.ficed ~n the .tcmp~e life story of Gugga. The person moving premises during the entire faIr penod III ahead carries in his hand an iron rorI about 1964. During state regime the goatsl were three feet long commonly called Chhm·i. Its offered by ihe ruling family. Late: oJ? these top is shaped like the hood of a snake. Dhoop "Were given by the Pahchaya.t. But. w~th the Is keDt burhing. Some nwulies are also tied passage of time the custom IS vamshmg. to it. Another person may hold a leaf um brella. Old and new clothes given by fami.. Then next eight days are for fair. But in Bes are .tied ito lW. Others flave dauroo reality the fair is held on the last three ~man hand drums. One may also have a or four days. During the first four days there 66 APPENDICES is . hardly any activity worth mentioning. The shopkeepers mostly come from Gha Sometimes a solitary devotee may come a11d marwin and Bilaspur which are nearly 15 offer grains to Gugga in the temple. Duxing :md 8 Kilometres respectively through short this time the dealers also start iixing their cuts. They also come from Jhandut~a and! tf'nts. Auhar. Two had a.ome from Anandpur in The fair previously used to be held within Punjab which is about 20 kilometres through the temple premises. But now many may :;t shortcut. Previously many came from Establish their booths and_ shops in the Kangm District in the Punjab. verandahs of the houses of local residents The main item sold in the fair are .~weets. Within the temple premises there are speCI There were 16 sweetsellers in 1964 including fied places for all type of stall holders viz., eating houses, tea stalls and chatwalas. general merchants, sweet seliers. photo Next come the general merchants. They deal graphers and bangle sellers. The spaces for in cheap cosmetics, hosiery, toys and bangles. sweet sellers, handolas are provided by The bangle-walas have brisk business. There auction. For example a particular part of were two photographers, nearly 8 fruit the land will be reserved' for halwais. There sellers, two quack dentists and an optician. the land will be divided in the requisite One person was also selling ready made sil number of stalls. These are then offered to ver ornaments. A young man was selling the dealers by auction and 25 per cent framed and unframed pictures of film stars, amount is realised on the spot. 'lhe b&lance deities and scenery. Earthen wares and i~ recovered next day. If the dealer fails to basketry wares were sold in early days but occupy his space within three days after no such person was seen in 1964. A dramatic Gugga Naumi the advance is forfeited and party of Hamirpur staged short dramas dur the space is fm;ther allotted to other dealers. ing night and day time. During day time The Bharai-drum beater moves from shop they gave comic performances. A perform to shop beating his drum. Tlie companion of ance used to last about half an hour and the Bharai receives some coins from the stall ticket was ten paise per head. At night they holders as alms. Behind the Bharai moves staged dramas concerning the lives of the the representative of Panchayat who collel.:ts heroes of Mahabharata. The ticket for such the dues against a receipt. The income so performances was 25 paise per head. realised is spent on the managenlent of the , fair. Here is the statement bf income and The attendance in the fair used to be heavy expenditure for the year 1963. in the past years. Now it has decreased. Because due to the completion of Bhakra Income Dam and entry of dam waters into low lying Rs. P. rivulets the approach to Gherwin has become 1 Offerings in cash . . . . . 214·46 somewhat difficult resulting in low attend 2: Income from the sale proceeds of grains offered by devotees ..... ]82'00 ance. According to many the influence of 3. Taxes from land allotted to stail holders, This the deity has fallen to a very low ebb. The also includes 25% advance and balance of attendance in the fair now hardly exceeds tile last year 4,000 persons'. Previously in heavy rains also Total 734·71 the attendance could exceed 5,000 persons easily. Expenditure Recreation and Welfare-When possible 1. Clothes fori mages in the temple ]4·66 the District Public Relation Officer organises 2. Sweets or Parshad . . . . . 30·00 3. Decoration of surroundings and purchase of film shows and documentaries are exhibited. bunting .... 3·93 Snake charmer and juggler demonstarte 4. Lighting and I'ent ofpetrom~x and lanterns . 26·48 their own tricks. A palmist was there to read 5. Kerosene oil and purchase of lllCenSe-8~magf1N 18·88 the fortunes. 6. Mionr repairs oftcmplc and surroundmgs 120·00 7. Painting of images 24'50 The tamak has great attraction. It is a big 8. Pl1yofthepriest . . . . . 90·00 kettle shaped drum beaten only on one side. 9. Sewing charges of olothes _for ddties and pur· chase of turbans for Bharlas 22·00 The two drums are beaten to a tune. A 10. Alms to Gugga parties 16'00 third person who is an. expert in tamak II. Rent of office 6'00 beating beats the ta.mak WIth two. ro~s to 1;:. Repair of dlums . • • 22·00 the tune. During thIS process he WIll Jump Ja. Miscellaneous and unforeseen charges 150'00 here and there. This is a worthseeing thing Balance li4·26 in a fair and many enjoy it. The tamak Total beater may give 20 or 30 paise to Bharai as aIm. APPENDICES 67 The Panchayat frames by laws to keep used to check his wife from going to this cleanliness in the fair. The dealers of sweets fair always fell victim to a snake bite. It are bound to use clean water in their prepa was believed that foot and mouth diseases rations and strict check to this effect is among ca-ttles were due to the wrath of made by the Panchayat. Gugga, because women hesitated to attend The handolas-merr;y go rounds are liked the last fair. much by young gi~ls an~ childr~n. +rh~ ~rls sing songs of theIr chOlce whIle enJoYIng It would be interesting to give here some the swings. tales and legends connected with Gugga at Gherwin. It is said that once Raja Vijai Wrestling Matches-A wrestling match is Chand of Bilaspur (1894-1925 AD.) came to a must at a Gugga fair and is held on either Gugga Temple to witness the first day of of the last two days. It is believed that gugga mari bai(hana. The arrangements for those who take part in such a match either . his seat were made in the courtyard out as spectators or otherwise, are blessed by side the main door. He lay on a nice cot. Gugga. Wrestlers from far away places like Kirpa Ram Rajput of village Barsindh offer Kangra and Hoshiarpur Districts were invit ed himself for khel. Soon after ·he went into ed here. But with the passage of time the trance and began to give the news of wrestling matches have begun to lose inte Gugga's journey from Maroo Desh. Soon rest. Now only children have this ga~e. after he told the Raja that Gugga was com They get some 20 or 30 paise each, the WIn ner comparatively a bit more. The payment ing with storm and that he should leave the is made out of temple funds. A devotee cot to welcome Gugga but the Raja did not sometimes requests the priest to organise a take it seriously and mocked at his utter match on his behalf because this is consi ings. The chela warned him to leave the cot dered a meritorious act. The payment to the immediately but the Raja remained sitting. parties in such a case made by the devotee. With a gust of wind the cot was upset and the Raja was thrown off the cot. Many During the matches the devotees f~~e ~he temple and say 'Jai Gugga Hazar Pir WIth heard the rattling sounds of horse's hoofs. folded hands. The Bharais remain beating: Even then the Raja did not take the event the drums all this time. seriously. In those days the weather was going dry Before such matches are organised the and the maize plants had almost died. The Bharais beat drums at the spot. Sometime Raja proclaimed that he would be convinced after one of the Bharai would obtain a lata of the power of Gugga if it rained. Within of milk and water with some coins. The a short time a small cloud appeared in the milk he pours in a circle under which none horizon. It covered the sky after a while and except wrestlers enter. This is called Kar rain begain in torrents. The Raja thanked Dena. Then the other Bharai dances or Gugga and promised to send clothes to tem jumps for a while in the circle to mark the ple images every year on Gugga Naumi. beginning of thel function. Since then the tradition has been followed. The fair ends with thaLuan-da-mela or the But with the integration of the State the fair of metallic plates. Previously it was a practice stopped. Now clothes are provided tradition in the area particularly at Gher by the Panchayat out of the income of fair. win that all women and girls used fQ go at During state regime Raja Vijai Chand Gugga temple. They would .carr~ the ite~s ordered the sm:pension of the fair as a mea of offering like rot and grams m metallIC sure to check an epidemic. The priests re plates. No man could go to fair on this day. quested him to allow the fair but in vain. After rna-king their offerings they would go One da:y when the Raja was to sleep on his to every swee~ sel.ler w~o would 'put some bed a big snake appeared on the ceiling. pieces of sweets In theIr metalhc plates. This> was something extra-ordinary. The Ra.i But this has totally vanished now. Wo~en purohit predicted that it was all due to the are seen daily going to the temple and makmg wrath of Gugga. So the Raja permitted the offerings. No woman now goes to a sweet observance of the fak seller begging parshad. The reason as stated During state regime two he-goats were by the elders is that ruffi.an el~ment . has offered to Gugga by the ruling family. One made the celebration of thiS day ImpossIble. goat was saCrificed in the temple. Its Illleat During Thaluan-da-mela the beating of was shared by all priests of the temple. The drums was stopped. Only one hando7.a of a second goat duly offered to Gugga was Lohar of Gherwin was allowed to function. taken back to Bilaspur where it was slain The women could ha,ve swings in this very and consumed as parshad by the ruling handola only. It is said that a husband who family. ' 68 APPENDICES Once, it is said, that Raja Anand Chand the power of Gugga according to the viIIag st?pped the offering of the goats to Gher fu~. e wm Gugga. Thus he earned the wrath of r GU9ga is de~uallY re1spected by many Mus ?eity. At night when he came to his sleep Ims. .A ccor mg ~o a egend he did not die mg room he saw four big snakes each in a but dls.appeare~ In the earth in Maroo Desh. corner of the room. The royal priests told So he IS worshIpped by Muslims too. Many that it was ~ll due to the wrath of Gugga. offer him coins and grains. On the night of Then the RaJa had to make a promise that Gugga-da-mari baithana, the Bharai Muslims he would not stop the tradition. Only then also ~ome with their drums to invoke Gugga the snakes disappeared. Muslims do not enter the temple. . Bhandari Ram is a resident of Gherwm. It Gug.ga-da-Dera-A Gugga-da,-dem may be Is said that when he was on Burma Front organised by an enthusiastic person whose during World War II he including his party wishes may have been fulfilled by the bless were about to be captured by the enemy. ings of Gugga. The head of the household He remembered Guggct and repelled the invites a party of singers. A grand feast is enemy. He won Victoria Cross. According held in the evening where these singers and to him this was all due to the blessings of other dear and near ones are served vege Guggu. tarian or non-vegetarian dinner. Then the party begins to sing songs in praise of Gugga. Once during the reign of Raja Anand They continue singing througout the night Cnand a vendor started selling wine within till dusk time. All members of the household the temple premises. The priest and others and neighbourhood keep awake at night. objected to this. lBut the vendor di:d ,.no~ Next day they take food and go. This may agree to shift the stall. The weather was be viewed as a thanks giving day to Gu,gga. clolldy. All of a sudden the rain started and These may be organised in all seasons ex lightening fell on the stall. All bottles were cept summer. A Chela may also come and smashed and liquor was destroyed. Such is answer the queries. APPENDIX VII Flora and Fauna AltitudillllJ range Remarks Serial Scientific Name English Name HilldlName No. 5 6 1 2 3 4. Jackal • Giddar, Siyal, Phiyal 1 Canis aureus Pij, Ban.bakri, Ghorrur, GhoraI, (feet) 2 Cemes Goral Garol Gharal 3000 to 6503 Upto 6503 Cervulus Illuntjac Barking deer Kakar or Kakkar 3 Sambhar, Samar, Rall (Bara. 4. Cervm unicolor • Sambar. singhal Felis (Bengalensisi) Leopard Chitta.billa . . . 5 Billa, Banbilla, Jungle Billa. Upto 6503 Rare Felis Chaus Jungle Cat Rare 6 Chitta, Billa, Bagar 7 Felis Pa.rdus Leopard, Panther, . Small Indian Mongoose Neol, Nyul Neola, Dhor Lower ranges 8 Herpestes auropunciatus 9 Herpestes smithi . Common Indian Mongoose Do. Hyena. . . Tarkh. . . . 10 Hyaena striate. . • Upto 6503 Hystri bucura.Hestrix bucura Indian Porcupine Syal, Shai, Kundewalli . 11 Common Indian Hare Khargosh. Seru, Pharru, Susya, 12 Lepusruficaudatus Sassu, Usa, Suhaceha. Ud, Ulbila, Judbar Lutra vulgaris Common Otter 13 Bengal Monkey, Rliesus Bander 14. Mac!\~us rhesus . Monkey. Sargal Saka. Ma.nxisaurita. Saridrei, Hill Pangolian 15 Rats and Mioe Chuha, Cliuhi 16 Mus (Whole family) Chitorala, Cbibfa., Sa.kka. Mustela flavigula Pine ?rlatrten 17 Indian Fruit Bat Badur Barbagul, Monis, IS Pteropusmdius Cbumgidda, Ultakao. Ban, Uddan Galhari Pwromysoral Large brown Haying 19 Squirrel. Squirrel. Galehtu. 20 Sernins Indicu~ •• Langur 21 SEl!llll() pitchecus or Presbytes Langur • . 8ohista.eeua. Indian Wild Boar Suar, Budh 22 Suseri3tatus Bausokr, Dakani tJ Viverr' Paradoxurus·gra.y Himalayan Palm Civet APPENDICES 69 APPENDIX VU-contd_ MIGRATORY FAUNA Sl. Scientific ~am(l English Name Altitudinal r8llge No. 1 Aooiplter llisu8mclanosohistoD, (Humc) • In 1 • 650S' 5 Ceriornis macl'OloIJhuB macrolophus (Less) Nokltls Pheasant Above 6000' fj Carthia himalayalla Itimalayana (Vigors) Himalaytln Trcc-Oreeprr • Upto 650S' 7 Cinnyris asiatica (Leth) Purple Sunbirtl 8 Columba livia (gmcJ) Blue Rock Pigeon Above 5000' I) Corvus macrorhynchosintermedius(Adams). Himalayan Jungle Crow • Upto G50:!' lOA Creocorys sylvanus ,HO(.lg8) Upland Pipit • • tJ ])to 6000' lOB Cueulus canol'US canorua (L) Common Cuckoo 10C Cueulus optntus (Gould) Himalayan Cuckoo • lOD Culicieapo ceyloncnsis paLidicr, (licehurst) Simla grer-headed Flycatcher ::000 to 6503' llA DOll(lrooitta vagabullda (Laht) Tree Pie. • 2000 to 050S' HB D:cruru;,; longionuUatus (Hay) Indian Grey Drongo IIO D.-yobates auriceps (Vigor.;; Western Himalayan Pied·lI·oodpecker 26CO to 6503' 12 D~ndrotreron lo<1gsoni (Vigors) • • Specl;led Wood Pigeon 13 b~yoh'\tes auriccpa (Vigors\ • Brown-fronted Pied WOOdpecker Do. 14 EmbCrizacia stra,choyi \ Moorc) Eastern lIeadow-Bunting From foothills to 6503' 15 Emboriza Cueata al'ouata. (Sllarpe) Indian -Grey· headed Bunting Do. 10 Embcriza stowarti (Blyth) • White·capped Bunting Do. 17 Elliourus maculatlJ.s macuhltus. \ Gigol'!» • Western Spotted-ForktaiJ • 4000 to 6503' 1M Faloo tinnunculUstinnllnculus (L) I{;oslrcl • 2500 to 6503' 1813 Frillgilnuda nemoricola altaica (Evcl'sm) Stolicrzka's Mountain·Finch 19 Galeo subbuteo (L) • Hobby • • .. 20 GJ.rrula;;: alboguiaris ·histleri (Stuart Baker) Western White.throatcd·Launging Thrush Bearded 21 Gypaetus barbatus (Ll Vulture , . • 4000 to 6503' 22 Gyps hiIUftluyensis (Hume) Himalayan Vulture • 23 lIemioh~li(lonsibirioa-gulmergi \Stuart Nbker) l(ashmir Sooty (Flycatcher) 24 Hirun 29 ::IIachlolophus :x:nnthogenys (Vig< r~) Yellow browed Tit • 30 Ucgalaima Virens lIIarahaIlorum (Swinhoe) • Great Himalayan Barbet • Fr0m foothills. to 6503' 70 APPENDICES APPENDIX VII-contrl_ MIGRATORY FAUNA Sl. Sci€n~lfic Name English Name No. Altitudinal range 31 :l.Iiaropus apus \L} • Common Swift 32 Mtlvua migrans (Bodd) Common Parish Nite_ 33 Molastes Leuoogcnysie.uco-ghys (Gray) • Whi te Cheeked Bulbul 3000 to 6503' 34, Montioola rltiivcntris (Jard) · Chestnut. bellied, R"ck·thrush 4000 to 6503' 35 Motaoilla alba albodos (Hodgs) . • • · Ho gaon's Wagtail 2000 to 6503' 36 ~Iotacitla "alpapcrsonta (Gould) • !\laske' WagtaH Do. 37 ~IYoph)nu8 t()mmlacki i (Vigors) • Himalayan Whistling-Thrush From Foothills to · 6503' 3SA Neophron percuopterus (L) White Scavcng~r Vulture. 3SB Nu~ifraga carY(loatacteshemisplia (Vigors) · Himalayan Nut.cracker 3000 to 6503' 39 Oenattho pleschanka plesohanka (Lepschin) • · Pie Chat 2000 to 6503' 40 I Oreioola fcrreaforrea (Gray) • Dark.Grey Bush Chat 2000 to 6503' ·.uA Oriolus oriolua kundoo (Sykos) · Golden Oriole Upto 6503' 4,lB Otus spilooephalus (Blyth) • . Spotted Soope Owl 4.000 to 6503' 42 Passer domesbious Indiaus (Jard) • Indian House-'Sparrow Upto 6503' 43 Phoanicurus frontalis (Virots) - Blue fronted Redstart 4000 to 6503' 44 PhyilQ'Soopus amnis (Tick) • · Tickell's Willow-Warbler Upto6503' 45 Phylloscopus trochil(Jides Ludlowi (Whiatler) · Dull Green Willow-Warbler Upto 6503' 46 Plerutiiuaerythroptorus (Vigros) • Red-winged Shrike·babbler 3500 to 6503' 4.7 Prunella strophista Jerdoni (Brooks) • • . Jerdon's Accentor From foothills to 6503 feet_ 48 Pious aquamatussqumatus (Vigors) • • Soaly-breasted Green Woodpeoker Above 5000' 49 Paittacula sohistloeps (Hod~\ 50 pyrrhula erythrooo'phala (Vigors) • Red-headed BaUfinch 4000 to 6503' iiI Saoicila Clprata bicolor (Sykes) • Pied Bush-Chat Upto 6503' 52 Sax:ioola torquata Indioa (Bylth) • Indian Bush·Chat 2500 to 6503' 53 Seicerous ll:l.nthoschistoB (Gray) • Gray headed Flyoatcher Warbler From foothills upto 6503' .54A Sbrix. mivioola(Blyth) ~ Himalayan ~'od·Owl Above 4000' ;[i-lB Streptop9liaorientalis meena (Sykesj Indian Rufous turtle Dove Upto 6503' MC Siva strigula. strigula (hodgs) Stripe-throated Siva 55 Spenoueraus.3 (Vigos) Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon 56 Streptope1ia Senegalensis (L) Little Brown Dove 57 Suya orinigera orinigera (Hotigs) • Brown Hill·Warbler 3000 to 11503' 58 Troohll()llteron variegatum variegatum (Vigors) Eastern Variegated Laughing Thrush _ 59 Upupa epopg (L\ Roopoe Upto5000' 60 Un'li319. erythorhynohll. oMipHalis (Blyth) Red-billed Blue Magpie 2000 to 6503' 61 Zos tarops pllpebrosl!. (Temm) White·eye Upto 651l3' APPENDICES .71 APPENDIX VII-contd. BIRDS SI. Scientific Name English Name Local Name Altitudinal Range No. 1 2 3 4 5 1 Alectoria grace graea Chukar or Chikor, cocahis Chukor, Chum, Chakur, khonk, Upto 6503' Chakor. kaunk, kakh·chahru. 2 Anaa platyrhyleha. lliatyrhy. bIaHam Nillsir, nilrugi, murgahabi Migrant neha limaeus. 3 Anthropoides, virgo Demoiselle Crane Karkarru, Choota kunj Very rare, Migrant 4 :Astur bamus Shikra or Brown·Hawk 1J[ale Female Chepku Shim 5 Astur gentiJis sehedowi Eastern Goshawk Zoora Baz 6 Clapella gallingago Common Snipe Jalakri Very rare 7 Caprimulgus Europaesuunwini Himalayan Night Jar Chippal, Chappa, debethri, asiaticus debbak andha chirya. 8 Casarea feWlginea Ruddy Sheldrake or Brahminy Surkhab, Chakwa, Cahkwi Migrant. Duck. lalsurkhab. 9 Catreu8 W~\lichii Chir pheasant Chri, Chihir, chaman, Chair. 10 Chaulelasmus strep6l'U8 Gadwall Mila,bhur, beykhur, murghabi Migrant 11 Columba·palumbus Eastern wood pigeon or ring Upto6503' 12 Conturnix·Cormandelica Black-breasted or Rain Quail Upto6600' 13 , ,Conturnix·oomurnix Coturnix Common Quail Bater, bars bater, gagasbater, Migrant. communis khair-bater, china-bater. 14 Corvus lavillanti Himalayan Jungle Kowa, Kawwa, Kan, pahari· Upto 65{)3' kawa. 15 Corvus splendens House row Kam, kawa, desi·kan 16 Crocopus Pheeni coptema Green pigeon Kabutar Throughout th& District. 17 Crus Eastern Crane Kunj, Kulang, murghabi Migrant. 18 Dafila acuta. Pintail Sanh, Sink.par, murghabi IlIigrant. 19 Francolinus.pondicerianus Grey partridge Titar, tittur, bagga.titar-parila Upto 1500' 20 FrancoJinus vulgaris Black partridge Kala-tital', koddi·tittar Upto 6500' 21 Gallus bajkiva Common Red jungli fowl Jungli murgi, bankukar 22 Gennaeous hamiltonli Gennafus White.crested-kalij Kolsa, kaljiji, Kalesha Upt() 6000' hailtonL 23 Haliaetus Leucoryphus Pallas fishing Eagle Kurl 24 Ichthyophage humilis Plumbeus Himalayan grey·headed Kuri 25 bIarecapenelope Qigoon Peasan, Patari, Choote, murghabi bIigrant. 26 Nettion crecca Common Tela Do. Migrant. 27 Ravo Cristatus ,- Common. Peafowl blor, lIIajjher, nodar Upto 5000' 28 Phalacrocorax carpo Indian largecormorant Pankowa jal kan 29 Psittacula eupati:ia Large India paroquet Tota, raitola 29a Puca atra-atra Common coot Khuskal, dasari, kari·murgabi Upto 6503' 30 Psittacula himalayana Himalayan Slaty headed Tula, tota, pahari Uyan Upto 2000' to 6503' Parrot 31 Psittacula krameri Rose-ringed paraquat Do. Upto 5000' 31a Rurnix dussumieri Little Button Quail Lawa, Chhota-Iawa 32 Strentopelia Chinensia Indian spotted Dove Chuggi, fakhta, tottru, chotta. fakhta. 33 Streptopelia oriental is Rufous, Turtle-Dove Kamlwa, chittal Upto 6503' 34 Tadorna-Tadorna Sheldrake Safed chakwa, shah chakwa Migrant. Safed Surkhab • 35 Venellus-Venellus Lawping pet or Green Plover .Bodhur or Tatiri Upto 4000' 72 APPENDICES APPENDIX VII-concld. FISH Altitudinal SI. Range No. Soientifio Name English Name Local Name r----"-~ Below 4000' & above 40006 above Remarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Barbus (Tor) putitora Mahsir Maheir Yes 2 Barilus bedelisis Chihoa Yes 3 Cyprinus carpio Mirror carp Mirror Carp Yes Yes 4 Garra lamta Kurka Huska Yes 5 Labeo dero Gid Yes 6 Labeo dyocheilus .. ' Kuni Yes 7 Oreinus plagiostomus plagiostomus Himalayan Barbel Saloh/Gongli Yes REPTILES SI. Altitudinal No. Scientifio Name English Name Local Name Range Remarks 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Bungarus Chudidus Karait 2 Naia Tripudins Cobra Kbarpa 3 Do. Bains 4 Do. Rati .5 Do • Sankh Chore 6 Do. Sotar (Do munha) '7 Do. Nag 1:1 Do. Leeches 9 Do. Rock lizard .. APPENDICES 73 APPENDIX VIII GLOSSARY Money given to Pandit on ceremonies. Agni Fire. Dakshina Ani Song in praise of a deity. Daola A section of Scheduled Castes. Breakfast. AtIi A raised platform by the side of a wall Datialu Dauroo A small drum. Atta Flour Powder. Dewali Hindu festival of light and joy. Autars Issueless ancestors. Dhayans Sisters. Badaigies lIIoney or prcscnts given at the time of farewell. Dheo Dhayaus Children ranking to daughters and sisters. Bali Ear ring. Dhoonoo Clay utensil used to boil milk. Balties Buckets. Dhoop Incense burnt in temples or during 13alu Nose ring. worship. Baoli Water spring. A spring. Loin-cloth. Batta Satta. System of marriage by exchange. Bhoti An 13edi A canopy shaped struc~rure in the Diwa earthen lamp. courtyard where marrIage cere Doli Palanquin. monies are solclllllised. Dopatta Headgear for women. 13haddoo Cooking pot. Dub Grass blades used during worship. A basket maker of Doomna caste. Bhanjra Duree Carpet. A special ceremony when many aso Bhatti Garur Puran One of the eighteen Puranas of the feaste. Hindu scripturcs. Alms. Bhiksha Gharat :Mill for grinding corn. Bhro A place where wa.ter is served to thirsty travellers. Ghungat Veil. Bigha One fifth of an acre. Ghungroos Tinklers. Eil A tree. Goloo A kind of clay. Bindi Red mark on the women's forehead. Gond Catechu. Binna A seat made of paddy straw. Gotra A sub-division of caste Clan. Bir A loeal diety. GramSabha Village Panchayat. Braina Food to the bridegroom on the first GramSewak Village level worker. day of marriage. Grehas &tars. Chabootra A raised platform of stones where passersby take rest. Guna Sweets prepared from wheat flour shakkar & ghee. Chadar Women's head dress. Gur Jaggery. Chaka. Stone slab. Guru Preceptor. Chapati Unleavened Bread. Pudding. Acharaj Low caste Brahmin invited at death Hahva occasions. Hukka Smoking pipe. Charkha Spinning Wheel. Janeu Sacred thread. Charnamrit A mixture of cow milk, curd, sugar, Jantar1\Iantar Charms and incantatious. honey, fruit and Ganga-jal. Pajhries Claypots for hooka. Charpoy Stringed cot. Joota Shoes. Chatai Mat. Kaochaloo Aun colocasia. Chauka A raised platform around tho kitchen Kajoo Casheunuts. hearth. Kaleera A chain mode of dates and Cocoanut. Chauki Wooden seat. Kali Metallic hooko. Chela Sorecerer. A ceremony entailing touching of Chha Whey. Kapal Kirya skull of a dead person with wooden A seive. a Chhanani pole during erlmation pole during Chhands Rough couplets ~old:during:a _marriag!J Karahi Cremation ceremony. Karchhi Ladle. Chhohara Dry dates. Karwa Small earthen vessel. Chi} Pinus longifolia. Katha Recitation from scriptures. Churel A wicked supernatural Woman. Kaudi A shell. Cho Rivulet Kirtan Collective recitation of devotional Bongs. Chola Robe. Khad A streamlet. Choora The set of bridal bangles. Khajoor Dates. Dai A woman attending delivery. Kharif Autumn crop. Dakh Dry raisins. Khatri A section of upper class Hindu. CONPLUSIO.N APPENDIX VIII.,..-contd. Khesi A cotton sheet. prohit' A priest of Brahmin ouste. Khind A mattress. Pucca Literally reliable. ~hir Milk pudding. Pun Merit. Well wishes. Khian, Threshing floor. Puranmashi , Full moon day. Kiari A 911111.11 plot. Pyjama A pair of trousers' Kooja An eart.!J.en W,are. Rabi ,Spring ,harvest. Koondi·danda A por,table 1110rtar and pestle. Rajrishi King of saints. Kungoo Red ppwdet or vermilion. Rishi ' Saint Kurta Shirt., Roondhi A savage. Kusha A saored grass Poa; cynosuroides. Roti A chapati. Lag Customary c0111pensation right. Sag Green leafy vegetabl6B~ Lakshami Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Sakranti First day of a Bikrami month. Mash A type of pulse. Samadhi Tomb. Mala Chain a neck ornament. Samagri Mixture of various herbs. Mandali party group. Sankalap Au undertaking. ~Ianj&ri A carpet of paddy straw. Sankh Conch shell. Mauli A red string of cotton UBed for aus· Sant Chaml1r priest. picious occasions. Sat An auspicions hour M8.zdoori UnSkilled labour. Satee Self immolation by & woman along: Melli. A fair. with her dead husband. Milni Meeting at the ti111e of weddirigs. Sa too Flour of parched grains. Muni Ascetic. Sehra Wedding chaplet worn by the· bride- groom. l.iother's perants: Nanka~ Sel Traditional rope fibre. ~a.vgraha titerally m~nB nirl.~ planets. Nine stars. Salwar Women's trousers. Sharadh Feasting at death anniversary. Nayaya Judicial. Sharbat Cold drink. Okhal.mooi l\fortar and pestle. Shiva Hindu god of destruotion. Pada A brahmin priest. Sil batta. A flat slab and a stone. Partishta House opening ceremony· Supari Arica nut. Pa\ki Palanquin. Sutak Impurity due to birth. Papies Sinful men. Tamaira Copper pot to heat water. Parat, A metal trough. Tamol Cash presented to a person. Parshad Offerings. Tawa Iron pan. Patari A basket. Tell A persons extracting oil. Patarma.la. A garland of leaves. Thakurs Objects of worship made of stone. Path: Reading holy books. Thai Shrine. Patila A kettle. Tha.li Metallio plate. Pattoo A coarse blanket. Tikka Red powder Vermilion. Phatooni A waist coat. Tilohauli Mixture of rice, sesmum and shakkar Pheras Sacred roun\ls of the fire during , marriage'. 'lola. Weighment of child with grains. Phalahar The, food ,taken on fasts. Topi Skull cap. Pinds Small.balls.of:barley flour offered Toren Th6 gate built at marriage. to the departed soul. Tulsi A type of sacred plant. Puja. Traditional '~orship. Yam doots Agents of the god of death. M/P(N)2SCOHP-500,-5.6.69-GIPB New Bilaspur Township Children playing in the open · , . The village deity / , . "."11"!•. Ghamarwin .- A Gharat " \; A distant view of the village ,,' f I 4.gricul:tural ,'Impliments .... '.:;:".:. ._ ',.: . ',-"" .. ;( Cattle. tether.ed in frgnt of a house -" ,'-'"" \ :, " , .I ~ --' 't"~ :. --- ". ...,- .. A weaver _ J 1-'ter of KandraT bridge ··· .''!fl ,,-_.-" Caw dung cakes A Chama~ family at work Dancing to the tune of drum at Gugga fait . ,:!. G1I.gga fair-Ghamarwin LiST OF .1961 CENSUS PUBLICATIONS OF HlMACHAL PRADES;H VILLAGE!. SU~VEY MONOGRA~HS District Champa. District Mahasu Chitrari, Chamba T~hsi1 (Price Rs., 3:6(}): jha'krori; ~onr:i1jUtl.;'l·ehSi:t·(Prtce·RS. 3~OO) Devi Kothi, Chaurah Tehsil (Price' :Bs. 3.10). Maingal, Chainiba Te~il Batal, Ar'Ri ·T.ehsil·:tphee Rs. ~2AI) Lakkar Mandi, Bhattiyat Tehsil Shathala •. "K.umharsain Sub-~ep.~U .(p:rice Rs.5.50). Hatli, Bhattiyat Tehsil {Price Rs. 3.15)l Tehsil Brahmaur, Brahmaur Sub·Tehsil .(Price £>-el~th, R~mpu1'" Rs. 4.20) Chergaon, Rahru Tehsil (Price Rs. 4.65) Kupha, Parmas, Malet and Karoti Gijari, Theog Tehsil (Price Rs. 2.45) (Thamoh) Bangi Sub-Tehsil ,Gerice Clummi, Kasumpti 'Tehsil Rs. 4.40) Basal, Solon Tehsil (Price Rs. 4.10) District Mandi Chaupal, Chaupal Tehsil Chauntra, Jongindarnagar Tehsil (~rice District Sirmur Rs., 3.25), Rajana, Rainka Tehsil (Price Rs: 5.75). Bir, Mandi Sadar Tehsil Moginand, Nahan Tehsil (Price ltSI. 3.75) Kot, Sarkaghat Tehsil (Price Rs. f,l.05) Kolar, Paonta Tehsil (Price Rs. ,3.45)" Panjain, Chichot Tehsil Kamrao, Paont:,l Tehsil (Price ~s" 3.20~ Nalag, Sundarnagar Tehsil .(Price Re. 1.00) District Kinnaur Pangnd, Karsog Tehsil (Prfce Rs. 2.951 Kothi, Kalpa Sub-Ii)ivis~on .(Pr.ice-,:Rs.3.55). District Bilaspur Nachar, Nachar S~b-DivisioIlt . (~riqe Dabhla Dari Ghamarwin Tehsil ,(Present,) Rs. 4.0;52 Deoli, .Bila~pur. Sadar, 'J.lehsjl ' - Kanum, P00 Stib-E>1\Tision' (Pric~tRs.: &.q,O~. (JJ!:N:r}tAL .GOVERNMEN1' PU13LICA1iI(i)NS 1961 Census Rep-ont" V-Olume XX-Hi~achal~radesh, will be in.the following parts""" I-A General Report V-B(.U) A ~tudy_of Gaddi.Sc4edul~q .Tpib$~ I-B Report on V~tal ~tat;~tJcs ot th~~Decade and afIihp.tttg..,cap,tes by Prof. WIHlam :n! including reprints Newell (P~lC~~ ;as. 2.9,0) Subsidiary Table~ . I-e VI Viil~ge Survey lVIon,og:r:aphs '. .(31) ;Wlla II-A General Populatjon Tabl~s.and ,Pri- ges). , mary Census Abstr~c!s (Price,~. 1:.75) lI-B Economic Tables (iPrice Rs ..5:50) . '"TII-A Survey oI'nan~r9ra;tf' II-C Cultural & Migration 'rables: ~Pr.ice VI~-:-~(I) Go~d 'ft~d ,. SlIver- Ornament~ Rs.7.50). . (PrIce RSI. ];5,00)' III Household Economic Ta::Ql~. (Price Rs. 3,60) VlI-A(lI) Art of WeaYing~ (~rice' Rf!., 8~25), IV Report on Housing.and.;Es-tablishments ViI-B Fairs and F€stj¥aiS'; .(1I?l'ke· Ri. -1!7:90J (Price' Rs. 15.50) , vrH-A . Administratio~ .RQPort-Eilumer:a"" V-A Special Tables o~ Sch~dulesl: Castes 'Hon (for officiai u;e huh,'j and Scheduled Tribes (including r.e prints (,Price Rs. 6.?1?) VIn~B 4amml~t.r~.p-9Jl, .Ke~grt--,..Tabulation , (for offidal us'e"onLy!~ V-B(I) Ethnographic riot~s: gn· Scheduled Castes & .Sclieduled~r:rril;les, IX'