This paper seeks to highlight the cultural and religious practices among the Gaddis. This present study is based on field work carried out in area of concentration of Gaddi people in Jammu region and some secondary data from books and printing material on Gaddi Tribe. A variety of methods i.e. observations, interview, discussion etc have been used while conducting field work to Document current practices of the people of Gaddi Scheduled Tribe. Efforts have also been made to document their lesser known ritual performances. About 12 villages from Doda District of Jammu and Kashmir were consulted. These villages are Bamlakhi, Bharei, Kansar, Hadal, Dandi, Manthla, Damunda, Nashkdi, Buttla, Sehdi, , Dhanu, Banjla in Bhaderwah Block. Gaddi also known as white humayan goat , is the predominant goat breed of high altitude. Gaddi Scheduled Tribe is a semi-nomadic Tribe situated in high Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Gaddi Scheduled Tribe constitute a sizeable population of Tribal habituating in Himachal Pradesh. These Tribal people mainly dwell around Dhauladhar mountain range, Chamba, Bharmaur and the areas near to Dharamshala. In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) these are in Doda, Bhaderwah, kathua, Udhampur and Ramban. They have their temporary seasonal houses known as Hadwari. They speak a dialect known as Gaddi. Their Main occupation is just grazing their sheep & goats and preparing khadi clothes from them. They made Blanket from wool after spinning it on charkha. Female member spin charkha and after male member makes blanket from it on an instrument known as Khade, made of wood. They made it in all season but mostly during winter. This is perhaps the only source of their livelihood. In 1990 there was peek militancy in J&K. Due To killing of various Gaddis by terrorists this profession of grazing decreased. To uplift this tribe they have been given the status of Scheduled Tribe in 1990-91. Various cultural and religious practices are listed and finally some suggestions are provided to save the cultural as well as religious practices among these Tribal people.
Key words: Gaddi, schedule tribe, jammu and kashmir, militancy.
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