Gaddis
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The Gaddi is a semi-pastoral tribe living mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The Gaddi live mainly in the Bharmour region of Himachal Pradesh and Chenab Valley of Jammu.
According to the 2011 Census of India, the Gaddi population was 1,78,130 in Himachal Pradesh and 46,489 in Jammu Kashmir. The Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh had an adult sex ratio of 1014 and literacy rate of 73.3, whereas those of Jammu and Kashmir had a sex ratio of 953 and literacy of 53.5.[1]
Culture and residence
[edit]The Gaddi are traditionally Hindu, and contain four castes- Gaddi Brahmins, Gaddi Rajputs, Gaddi Thakurs and Gaddi Khatris.[2][3]
Singh, Rana, Thakur, Rathi And Rawat are common surname of Rajputs in the Gaddi community.[4]
The Gaddi live mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The Gaddi live mainly in the Bharmour, Chamba, and Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh. Gaddis are devoted to Shiva, Kelang, and Mata Marali. [citation needed]
History
[edit]The Gaddis descend from Hindu Punjabis of various castes who originate in the plains of the Punjab region and took refuge in the Western Himalayan mountain ranges before the Mughal period to escape religious persecution by Islamic invaders.[2]
Gaddi Rajputs may also consider themselves descendants of Gadaria Rajputs, while some historians say that Gaddi Rajputs are descendants of the Garhwali rulers of Rajasthan. The couplet "Ujrya Lahore to Vashya Bharmour" indicates the immigration of Gaddis from Lahore to Bharmour. [citation needed]
Castes
[edit]The highest castes in the Gaddi community are the Brahmin, Rajput, Khatri, Rathi and Rana castes. The lower castes are Sippi,lohar, Rahadia, Kali, Hali, and Doom castes.[5]
Occupations
[edit]The majority of Gaddis are now land owners and practice agriculture as their primary means of livelihood. They may also be pastorals and own large flocks of sheep and goats as their traditional occupation.[6]
Dress
[edit]Chola and Dora are the traditional dress styles. Dora is the most important part of Gaddi dress. Chadru is used by Gaddis to cover their head.[7]
According to the 2011 Census of India, the Gaddi population was 178,130 in Himachal Pradesh and 46,489 in Jammu Kashmir. The Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh had an adult sex ratio of 1014 and literacy rate of 73.3, whereas those of Jammu and Kashmir had a sex ratio of 953 and literacy of 53.5. reservation system.[8]
Gaddis' traditional practices and habits are changing rapidly with India's modernisation.[9] In 2024, an exhibit "Journey across the Himalayas" was held in New Delhi, sharing about Gaddis' way of life and modernity.[10][11][12][3]
Gallery
[edit]-
Gaddi woman mowing, Alfred Hallett c. 1980 -
Gaddi men near Dharamshala, 1980 -
Gaddi artisans at Suraj Kund fest
References
[edit]- ^ "Statistical Profile of Scheduled Tribes in India" (PDF). Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Statistics Division, Government of India. p. 170. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Gaddi Tribe of Himachal Pradesh: History, Culture, and Traditions – Jokta Academy". Retrieved 16 March 2025.
The Gaddi community has a long and complex history. Their origin goes back to Hindus who took refuge in the Western Himalayan mountain ranges to protect themselves from invasions, war, and religious persecutions in the plains (Punjab) during and pre-Moghul period.
- ^ a b "Gaddi Tribe - Gaddi Gems". 14 August 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Divyahimachal (2 November 2021). "उपजातियों से जोड़ा जाए गद्दी शब्द". Divya Himachal. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
- ^ "गद्दी जनजाति - भारतकोश, ज्ञान का हिन्दी महासागर". bharatdiscovery.org. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ "Gaddi Community Occupations". gabdika.com. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ "Gaddi Community Marriages". gabdika.com. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ "Statistical Profile of Scheduled Tribes in India" (PDF). Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Statistics Division, Government of India. p. 170. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ Simpson, Nikita (29 May 2023). "Ghar ki tension: domesticity and distress in India's aspiring middle class". Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. 29 (3): 573–592. doi:10.1111/1467-9655.13956. ISSN 1359-0987.
- ^ Jha, Aditya Mani (20 December 2024). "In 2025, look to the Himalayas". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ Aastha D. (14 December 2024). "Journeying Across the Himalayas spotlights the region's layered society and culture". STIRworld. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ Singh, Dharmendra (20 December 2024). "Know About Himachal Pradesh : विरासत और संस्कृति को सहेजे हैं गद्दी जनजाति के लोग". Tv 9 Bharatvarsh. ISSN 0971-751X.
External links
[edit]
- "Gaddi, a Hindu community of the Western Himalayas". open.library.ubc.ca. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- Divyahimachal. "उपजातियों से जोड़ा जाए गद्दी शब्द". Divya Himachal (in Hindi). Retrieved 16 March 2025.
Further reading
[edit]- Verma, V. 1996. Gaddis of Dhauladhar: A Transhumant Tribe of the Himalayas. Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi.