Ancient Tribes of Himachal Pradesh

Tribe Name	Key Identifying Characteristics/Historical Context
Dasas	Earliest known inhabitants of the Shivalik foothills; pre-Vedic. Resisted Aryan advancement; later assimilated. Some scholars link them to Indus Valley Civilization. 1
Kiratas	Mentioned in epics like ‘Kiratarjuniya’; King Shambar fought Aryan King Divodas for 40 years. Had organized society, towns, and forts. Primarily practiced Shamanism (Kirat Mundhum). 2
Nagas	Worshippers of serpents (Nagas); prominent kings were Vasuki, Kali, Takshaka. Naga cult, an offshoot of Shiva-Shakti cult, is still influential with many Naga temples (e.g., Nagchala, Kelang Naga). Naga Panchami is a major festival. 4
Khasas	Ancient Indo-Aryan tribe; ‘Khasdesh’ was their homeland (NW Indian subcontinent to Nepal). Dominant group that pushed earlier inhabitants to remote areas. Social structure included ‘Khoonds’ (warrior groups like ‘Shatha’ and ‘Pasha’). Practiced ‘Jethong’ (eldest son’s extra share) and ‘Kanishong’ (youngest son’s extra share) inheritance. Followed village god system (Mahasu cult prominent). Used ‘Tankri’ script. 4
Pishachas	Known as ‘Rakshas’ in Vedic times; consumers of raw flesh. Inhabited North frontier and adjoining Himalayan tracts. 4
Yakshas	Known as tree gods with mysterious superhuman powers; referenced in Mahabharata (Yudhishthira’s encounter). 1

Key Demographic Facts (Scheduled Tribes – ST)

• ST Population (2011): 392,126 (5.71% of state’s total population). ²¹
• ST Population (2001): 244,587 (4.0% of state’s total population). ¹
• Highest ST Concentration (District-wise, 2001): Lahaul & Spiti (73.0% of its district pop.), Kinnaur (71.8%), Chamba (25.5%). Chamba had largest absolute number of STs (48.1% of state’s STs). ¹
• Sex Ratio (ST, 2011): ~999 females per 1000 males. (Kinnaur: 1013, Lahaul & Spiti: 962, Chamba: 950). ¹⁵
• Sex Ratio (ST, 2001): 990 females per 1000 males. (Kinnaur: 1140, Lahaul & Spiti: 1022). ¹
• Literacy Rate (ST, 2011): ~73.6% (Official figure). Male: ~83.17%, Female: ~64.20%. (Variations exist across sources: another states 80.77% overall, M: 88.37%, F: 71.34%). ⁸
• Literacy Rate (ST, 2001): 65.5%. Male: 77.7%, Female: 53.3%. ¹
• Work Participation Rate (ST, 2001): 54.6% (Main workers: 37.0%, Marginal workers: 17.6%). ¹

Major Scheduled Tribes of Himachal Pradesh                                                               

Swangla
Primary Location	Pattan Valley (Lahaul-Spiti). 7
Language(s)	Manchati, Chiniali, Tinan/Tinent. 7
Key Social Custom	Past polyandry (declining); Rusa-te-byah (elopement), Kua-byah (capture); Tsud-thvagchi divorce (breaking thread); Pagyund inheritance (equal for sons). 9
Traditional Occupation(s)	Agriculture (cash crops: potato, hops), labor, trade. 9
Religion/Deity	Hinduism, some Buddhism (Gelugpa); Trilokinath, Markula Devi. 9
Major Festival(s)	Trilokinath Fair. 9
Unique Dress/Ornament	Men: Sultan, Chola, Dora. Women: Pattoo, Dhatu/Thipu (head cover). 9
Lahaula
Primary Location	Lahaul area (Lahaul-Spiti district). 8
Language(s)	Lahauli (Tibetan-like). 1
Key Social Custom	Polyandry (historically); Tabhagston (arranged) & Kumash Bhagston (capture) marriages; Kudpti chadcbe divorce (breaking wool thread). 1
Traditional Occupation(s)	Agriculture, mule rearing, weaving, past trade with Tibet. 1
Religion/Deity	Buddhism (dominant), Hinduism. 1
Major Festival(s)	Not specified in detail.
Unique Dress/Ornament	Men: Kattar (Tibetan gown), Tobri cap. 1
Pangwal
Primary Location	Pangi valley (Chamba), Lahaul, Kullu.
Language(s)	Pangwali.
Key Social Custom	Bari shad (negotiation), Pith-chuk (capture) marriages; Chundaband inheritance. 1
Traditional Occupation(s)	Agriculture, sheep/goat herding, weaving. 1
Religion/Deity	Hinduism (Shaiva/Shakti sects), Goddess Durga, Nag. 1
Major Festival(s)	Tyane, Dikhrain, Masan Devi fair. 1
Unique Dress/Ornament	Men: Chola, Majhir. Women: Achunri/Cholijoji (head dress). Silver ornaments. 1
Gujjar
Primary Location	Hindu: Mandi, Kangra, Sirmaur, Solan, Bilaspur. Muslim: Chamba, Mandi, Bilaspur, Solan, Sirmaur. 7
Language(s)	Hindu: Regional dialects. Muslim: Gujjari. 1
Key Social Custom	Hindu: Gotra exogamy. Muslim: Bhatariye/Chanan groups (no intermarriage), Nikah, Mehar, consanguineous marriages. 1
Traditional Occupation(s)	Hindu: Settled agriculture. Muslim: Pastoral nomadism (buffaloes), milk trade. 7
Religion/Deity	Hindu: Krishna reverence. Muslim: Islam. 1
Major Festival(s)	Common regional/Islamic festivals. 1
Unique Dress/Ornament	Men: Special turban. Women: Skilled embroidery. 1
Kinnaura
Primary Location	Kinnaur district. 4
Language(s)	Kinnauri, Bhoti. 1
Key Social Custom	4 marriage forms (Janekang, Damchalshish, Darosh, Har); Fraternal polyandry (historically); Jathong/Kanishong inheritance. 1
Traditional Occupation(s)	Agro-pastoral, weaving, knitting, apple cultivation. 1
Religion/Deity	Hinduism & Mahayana Buddhism syncretism; Maheshwar, Chandika. 4
Major Festival(s)	Phulaich (Ukhyang – festival of flowers), Losar. 1
Unique Dress/Ornament	Thepang (cap for both), Chhuba (men’s cloak), Dhori (women’s drape). Silver ornaments. 1
Gaddi
Primary Location	Bharmaur (Chamba), parts of Kangra, Nurpur. 7
Language(s)	Western Pahari. 1
Key Social Custom	5 marriage types (Gudpad Phunk, Jhanjrara, Ghar Jawantri, Batta-Satta, Dan Pun); No formal ‘Talaq’; Equal property distribution. 1
Traditional Occupation(s)	Sheep/goat rearing, cultivation. 7
Religion/Deity	Hinduism (Lord Shiva principal), Kelang, Gugga. 1
Major Festival(s)	Mani-Mahesh Yatra, Minjar, Jagra. 1
Unique Dress/Ornament	Men: Chola, Dora (long woolen cord), Bhukal cap. Women: Chadru. Silver ornaments. 1
Jad (Lamba/Khampa)
Primary Location	Pangi, Chamba, Upper Kinnaur (Hangrang valley), Lahaul-Spiti. 8
Language(s)	Jad/Rongpa (critically endangered Tibeto-Burman), Hindi, Garhwali. 3
Key Social Custom	Polyandry (historically), patrilineal; Unmarried girls ‘Jomo’; Simple marriage rituals. 15
Traditional Occupation(s)	Agriculture, wool trade, past trans-Himalayan trade. 10
Religion/Deity	Buddhism (Mahayana), local deities (Lal Devta), some Hindu influence. 3
Major Festival(s)	Losar. 3
Unique Dress/Ornament	Woolen clothes. Women: Kolak (green dress), Nath (nose ring), Kanthi (necklace). 3
Khampa
Primary Location	Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti (migrated from Kham, Tibet). 1
Language(s)	Khampa dialect, Tibetan script. 1
Key Social Custom	Past polyandry (declining); Marriage by ‘phaktun’ (negotiator); No dowry/bride price; Latsa-latsa divorce. 1
Traditional Occupation(s)	Past: Sheep herding, Tibet trade. Now: Agriculture, orchardism, business. 1
Religion/Deity	Lamaistic Buddhism (all 4 major sects); Chhadna-Dorje. 4
Major Festival(s)	LOSAR (New Year), Sade Gamche. 1
Unique Dress/Ornament	Men: Chola (black). Women: Chola (brown). Carpet weaving (dragon design). 1