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LAUNCHARI - The Pride of a Gaddan

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Gaddan - Painting by Sir Sobha Singh My beautiful friend - Shweta with little Ashwith Gaddans of Bharmour - Internet During my early days of living in Dharamshala one of the images that got imprinted on my mind – was the painting of a village girl by Sir Sobha Singh – titled Gaddan -   with her sheep, her kambal (quilt) and sweet expressions against the backdrop of snow clad mountains. Gaddi – people who rear sheep, sell wool and lead a nomadic lifestyle. They are considered to be humble, hardworking, with a natural sense of hilarity and steeped in traditional ways of living and dressing. Theirs is a remarkable race with a distinct identity in Himachal. They arouse curiosity in many ways. For me what caught my attention was the beautiful dress and jewellery of the Gaddan women and their smiles – definitely the most colorful and beautiful in Himachal. The Gaddi jewellery is now the trade mark of Himachal With my interest in everything traditional; I obviously yearned to wear it...
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DODRA and KAWAR - Mysterious Himachal

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Beautiful Chanshal  Village Dodra  Village Kawar - pic curtsey Internet Every state in India has certain areas which are remote and mysterious and evoke interest – interest as a visitor and as a researcher - in their history and uniqueness. Himachal also has many such places and at the top of the list is – DODRA - KAWAR – probably the remotest and one of the most backward areas of Himachal. Till 2009 it was approachable only on foot (three days trek to the nearest road head) and still gets cut off for 3-4 months a year due to heavy snow fall on highlands. It mainly remained cut off because the road could not be constructed as the local ‘Deity’ did not give permission for it till 2006.   Administratively also it was just a tehsil and became a sub division recently. Its a tri-junction of the state of Uttrakhand and Rohru and Sangla in Himachal. The confluence is evident in its language, dress and culture. Ever since I came to this state, I had heard about this far of...
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