Life of a Maldhari (Banni Pastoralist) “ When the land is discarded and the world called it as ‘waste’… When life is harsh and the extremities are the realities…. When the climate changes and hope remains, yet another day to survive persists, in search of grass heads held high, hearts tied to their cattle… a day dawns into another defining, the edges of landscape and traditions of the life….” Intersection of Ecology and Culture in Pastoral Landscape Banni Grassland .Kutch. India Jagadeesh Gorle Vandana Sreepada Divya Shah Camel Banni Horse Bunni Buffalo Kankrej Bull Goat Sheep Dromedary Equus caballus Bubalus bubalis Bos taurus indicus Capra aegagrus circus Ovis aries Nano Zinzvo Madhanu Khevai Sewan Dhaman Cenchrus Oin Cenchrus Dichanthium Cenchrus Eragrostis Eleusine Sporobolus setigerus cillaris Lasiurus helvolus annulatum Cressa cretica sindicus setigerus variablilis Indica Dhrab Chhabra Dhrabad Shiyal puch Desmotachya Cynodon Cynodon Chloris Chloris Suaeda Sporobolus Eragrostis bipinnata dactylon Eleusine Celianensis dactylon barbata barbata fruticosa diand&r Echinochloa Chiyo Madhanu Khariyu Kal Dactyloctenium Echinochloa Eleusine Cyperus Sachhurum Dactyloctenium Aeluropus aegyptium Sporobolus Eragrostis Colona Indica rotundus sindicum lagopoides Scirpus sps. spp Kutch Peninsula and Banni Grassland Half gabrion formation of Banni Grassland between Rann of Kutch Grass diversity and the Pastoral breeds developed by the local hereders in response and Bhuj Ridge with the land over generations Land in its Dynamic nature reflects in the unique adoptatation of Maldhari Way of Unnaro Vatho Siaro Summer Monsoon Winter life keeping Jal, Jameen, Ghaas and Maal in the heart of their routine… Jal- Water Ghaas- Grass Zameen- Land Maal- Cattle Banni Landscape and its soils described by Maldharis Zameen ( Soil) Understanding the nuances of the land and identifying its key character and mending the life with it Mouri ( Fertile Soil) forms the key aspect of survival in Maldharis Life in the semi desert grassland of Banni Ghaas Khari mitti Rann Vaari Mouri soils Chikini Mitti highly saline soils, frequently inundated complete saline soils where no Sandy loamy soils Highly fertile than all other soils Usually found in the water logged areas. with water found in low lying lands. vegetation occurs with shining quality where all types of grasses grow. Khaddas and Tarav Sparse vegetation like Sueada and is the fertile soil found in the Pannavari cluster and high clayey and sticky soil. used for grasses like oin grow. Camels graze on elevated land within central Banni construction of Bhungas(traditional houses) these vegetation Sem Sueda Wada Rasaal Desi Babul Gandavo Bhaval Wandh Ghaas Jheel Maldharis unique way Presense of Halophytes Cattel pens prepared during Fertility of the soil can Existence of Desi Babul Invasion of Presence of thick Knowledge about variety traditional dug up ponds of naming the grass and in the drier parts of dry season for younger be observed when the and conserving patches Prosopis Juliflora vegetation as landmark3 of grasses grow for providing water to patches and free Banni. Camels graze calfs and storage of fodder for soil have enough of Desi Babul to identify settlements in Banni and their local cattle grazing of cattle. upon these plant dry season names moisture Treating Banni as species. common land Jal ( Water) Banni Water systems from Maldhari perspective perspective Jheel ( Dug up pond) Thadav Dandh Jheel and Jheel Khadda Rann Largest water body. seasonal wetland settlement Traditional Dug up pond used to Seasonal pond or natural Water body used for drinking Salt Marsh seasonally inundated Water stays here for more than few months store water during monsoon. Jheel is the major depression where water purpose during Monsoon with tidal water source of Drinking water logging happens. Specially used for the cattle Saline water Subsurface water Surface water Saline water 4 Identifying a natural depression by Setting of a temporary cattle Pen Digging of soil by anylsing the soil character and preparation of Digging of shallow wells which yield sweet water and successively Digging of Virda observing the surface soil and before even erecting the shelter surface water channels to direct the surface water another well when water becomes saline vegetation growth Process of Finding a waterhole and making a Jheel Life centered around the Water Maldhari Settlements around the Jheels Khadda (Water channels) are dug up around the Jheel to direct rainwater into the Jheels Construction Of Virda and the extraction of Water during dry months Identifyin water available in the thin pockets of sand Supporting braces to the side walls with timber and grasses to filter the muddy water Manual extraction of water through chadda- Water basket Watering cycles and management cycles to access virda and restriction of cattle movement to prevent collapsing of virdas Cross section showing the section of Jheel extraction of water from the Virdas and channeling it to Avada ( cattle drinking spot) Setting of Jheel and Virda ( water hole) and Cattle pens around it. A jheel has multiple Virdas manged successively through generations of Maldharis Life tuned with the seasons Vatho- Monsoon Grazing Milking Jheel and Orchard Churning butter Night grazing Stars as Landmarks during night Trees as landmark during the day Way-Cattle pathsFinding in the Landscape Maldharis travel long distances in search of fodder with their cattle. During the Close association with the cattle and their moral existence in the life of Maldharis. time when they lost the way in the grassland with no visible identifying Maldharis have unique way of tying bells to the cattle which makes a specific sound landmarks. They follow the movement of the cattle to reach the water hole or through which the herder can recognises his own herd from the distance. This resulted in the hamlets nearby. From the distance the patch of thick trees indicate the the mewl bells craft made by the lohar communities location of the settlement. The understanding of various genes, species in an ecosystem is very important for its maintenance and survival. Every community interprets the world around them in a different way. Best practices preserved through their norms and beliefs and can only passed through successive generations….