Ethos of the People of Uttarakhand
In Jaunsar-Bawar, Jaunpur and Ravain areas of Uttarakhand, Polyandry was common. The eldest son of the family married and his wife was shared by all brothers equally. This custom is on the wane now. Till recently, caste played a major role in deciding marriages. An intercaste marriage was unthinkable. Brahmins and Rajputs married only within their circle of castes. Not all Brahmins married among themselves. So was the case with Rajputs and Harijans. Costume The fibres locally found and the climate have a natural bearing on the clothes people wear. ‘Bhang’ is cultivated in Raath and Bhardar areas of Uttarakhand and, therefore, clothes made of ‘bhang’, called ‘tyunkha’ or ‘bhangela’ were worn by the people. In this connection Mr. Baton’s Settlement Report of 1850 is informative. The dress of the farmers, he says, is absolutely primitive. It is like a blanket spread down from the shoulders and tied at the chest with a pin of metal or wood. A ‘kamarband’ of sheep wool is wrapped over it, around the waist. Below the waist an underwear like garments or ‘langot’ loin cloth is worn which was tied at the waist with a thread. A thick woolen cap is also worn. In seasons other than winter, when a blanket like woolen coat and trousers were worn, legs and arms are left uncovered. Thus the costume of men in Uttarakhand comprised ‘tyunkhi’, ‘trousers’ and ‘langot’. Women wore woolen ‘angiya’ and ‘lava’. ‘Angiya’ was a modern blouse like garment and ‘lava’ was like a blanket which was wrapped around the lower part of the body and then carried over to cover the upper part and tied at the breast with a pin. ‘Kamarband’, a kind of waist-band was worn over the ‘lava’. A ‘chadar’ called ‘jhulka’ was used as a head gear. However, with the growing influence of the plains, this costume is almost extinct now. ‘Lehnga’ which was very popular at one time is now worn only on jewellery was widely used. Upper caste ladies wore ornaments of gold and silver while poor women used ornaments of bronze or iron. Nose ornaments included ‘nath’, ‘phuli’ and ‘bulak’. ‘Murkhala’ was worn on the ears. Bangles included ‘dhaguli’ made of gold or silver and ‘kangan’. Foot ornaments included ‘jhinvara’, ‘paunta’, ‘lacha’ and ‘dhagula’. Necklaces included ‘hansuli’, ‘mala’, ‘kandi’ and ‘gulbandh’. ‘Mundri’ was the finger ring. ‘Kardhani’ was tied around the waist. Men also used ‘Kundal’ or ‘murki’, on the ear. Food Because of the climatic conditions, people of Uttarakhand are generally meat-eaters. Even Brahmins ate meat. Meat of sheep and goat was eaten by all. Only lower caste people ate the meat of buffalo and pig. Roti prepared of wheat or ‘mandwa’ and bhat rice cooked of ‘chaunl’, ‘jhangora’, and ‘kauni’ was the main food of the people. Pulses included ‘urad’, ‘gaith,’ ‘bhatt’, ‘tor’, ‘kalau’, ‘rayansa’, chhimi’, ‘sunth’, ‘masur’, etc. Other cuisines included ‘chhanchya’, ‘badi’, ‘paleu’, ‘fanu’, ‘chainsu’, gurjhwali’, ‘kheer’, etc. Important vegetables grown in hills include potato, raddish, pumpkin, beans, parmal, tori, palak, rayi and tairu. Fruits like apple, banana, mango, pears, peach, and pomegranate are grown. Local fruits include ‘kafal’, ‘hinsar’, ‘kingoda’, ‘bedu’, ‘timla’, ‘bhaunra’, ‘tunga’, ‘khadika’, etc. On special occasions ‘puri’-’pakori’ and ‘halwa’ was prepared. Married daughters carried basketful (kandi) of ‘arsa’ and ‘rot’ to her in-laws house. Happy occasions were celebrated by breaking a ‘bheli’ and distributing ‘gud’ to all villagers. Because of the rigid caste system, many food taboos developed. Brahmins could eat bread in a Rajput home but not rice. High caste Brahmins did not share food with Brahmins of a lower rank, in Garhwal, only food prepared by ‘sarolas’ could be served to the high and low alike. However, with the spread of education and western culture and outlawing of untouchability, food taboos related to inter-dining have virtually disappeared.
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UTTARAKHAND : Need for a Comprehensive Eco-Strategy
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