Gujar house, a photo from Jammu and Kashmir, North

Photographer's Note

I have now found out that these people are called, 'Gujar', they live by looking after their stock, buffalo, sheep and goats. In the spring the animals are brought up to these high pastures then as winter approaches they take them back to the Indian low lands.
They have to let them graze with the permenant farmers there and I think there are laws so that they can continue this tradition even though in these modern times it is difficult.
Here you see their houses they use, actually they are very good but the winter can destroy them so the first thing they do is do all the running repairs

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Critiques | Translate

ben4321 (9875) 2007-02-25 8:43

I'd have liked to have seen this one in colour, it looks like a lush landscape at this time of year and I bet the greens were very intense.
It's an interesting shot though, and combined with your note gives us a good insight into the lives of these people.
I like the inclusion of the girl on the roof, but again I'd like to see her in colour so that we could see the colours of her clothing.

Cheers,
Ben

bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-02-26 22:32

Dear Simon,
A very well documented picture and that is also in Black and white.
Bugial
In the Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal of India this is a common practice of using the grazing fields in the mountains. Those fields are named Bugial. After the winter when the snow line recedes upwards the area becomes green with fresh grown grass.
Gajar/Gujjar/Gurjjar
The name of these communities are Gujjar or Gurjjar. Gajar in Indian pronounciation means Carrot. "Gajar ka Halwa" is a very popular and delicious sweet dish prepared from carrot in Northern India. Somewhere they are called Gaddy also.
Habitat
They move along the receded snow line terrains for fresh green grasses to feed their flock of sheep. Buffalo or goat I have never seen. Another interesting fact is the full family with ladies also in the group in your photos. This is not common. Around October/November they go down the plains.
Watch dog
They have a group of trained watch dogs with them. The dogs protect the sheep from wild animals and at the same time do not allow them to disperse.

Interesting death
Sometimes those sheep face a very interesting death. As a mountaineer you will realize very well. The Juniper grows through years over this snow line. Their stems creep on the ground and convolute and form small loops. Sometimes the leg of the sheep gets caught in those loops. Reflexly the sheep pull its leg with all its power to release. With a sudden jerky release it gets thrown into the nearby pit or crack.
Any expedition team passing by may purchase the meat.

Thank you for your exploration and reviving my memory of sharing the meat once.
Best wishes
Dr. J.