Gaddi Tribe, Himachal Pradesh :

Gaddis belong to the class of the shepherds and their job is to look after goats and sheep. This is a kind of popular community in Mandi and you can even discern a section in Billaspur and Kullu. However, a massive Gaddi population resides in the district of Kangra and you can even discern them in Bharmaur in the District of Chamba.

Gaddi tribe is the pride of Himachal Pradesh and they are scattered in several territories and in several districts.

The concentration of Gaddis tribes is mainly found on both sides of the Dhauladhar Range of the state of Himachal Pradesh. Quite a number of Gaddi tribes also dwell mainly in the Brahmaur region of Chamba District, in the higher regions of the Ravi River and also the valleys of the Budhil River. Other regions include Kangra district, chiefly in the villages of the Tota Rani, Khaniyara, close to Dharamsala. 

As per the records of the anthropologists, the origin of these Gaddi tribes has a rich history behind the development of this tribal community. In fact about their origination, popular myths are quite popular in whole of the state of the Himachal Pradesh. It has been assumed that the Gaddi tribes came down from emigrants who had taken refuge in the plain lands of Indian Territory. 

Another legend is common about the Gaddi community. According to this legend, it is thought that various castes of the Gaddi tribal community have been transmigrated at different times. Around 850-70CE, a group of Brahmin Gaddi tribe moved to Chamba and situated their abode permanently. Majority of the other castes of Gaddi tribal community have descended to the mountain ranges to run away from the threats of the famous Mughal emperor Aurangzeb at the time of seventeenth century CE. Most of he Gaddi tribal people are the worshiper of Lord Shiva. 

There are people of several other castes in the whole of the Gaddi tribal society namely Thakur, Khatri, Brahmin, Dhangar, Rajput, and Rana. The people of this tribal community are oriented towards religion as well as spiritualism. Both the religions of HinduismGaddi Tribal Customs and also Islam are being practiced by a large section of the Gaddi tribal community. 

The distinctness lies not only among the people of Gaddi community but also in their dressing type. The Gaddi men wear chola, turban or safa and dora and women wear launchiri. Gold ornaments especially gold earrings are used by both the men and women of this community. 

The Indian anthropologist has duly highlighted another aspect; by nature, these Gaddi tribes are largely esteemed for their honesty, friendly disposition and peaceable life-style. Crime is almost obscure in almost all the villages of the Gaddi tribal community. 

In order to meet the requirements of day to day living, these Gaddi tribes have taken up diverse occupational activities. Since these Gaddi tribes have built their settlements in the villages, they are not considered to be nomads. However, seasonal movement of sheep and goats to higher or lower pasture is a conventional practice. In general, these Gaddi tribes go with their livestock to several pastures of the upper regions of the state at the time of summer season. 

As far as the languages are concerned, the majority of the Gaddi tribe speaks Gaddi language. For writing, however, this Gaddi tribal community uses Takri language. However, the language had gone into oblivion only few years back. Devangiri script is in vogue. Also under the impact of the modern day culture, the Gaddi tribal people have also mastered Hindi language.

Festivals :

The Gaddis celebrate some of the most renowned festivals.

 Basakhi or it is even referred as Bisu. This is a sort of celebration being held either in the first half or in the middle of April. On the occasion the Gaddis make cakes of bhares and wheat flour.
The second occasion being celebrated is known as Sair. Siar is a sort of tribal occasion being celebrated on the 1st of Asju. The Gaddis eat meat on the occasion and they even take to homemade beers along with Babrus made of flour and wheat. These are eaten with lots of vegetables. On the occasion married daughters come to meet their parents. This is basically the day at the end of the rainy season. People buy new clothes to celebrate the occasion.
Another grand occasion is the Patroru Sagrand. The Gaddis celebrate the occasion on the first of Bhadon. This generally takes place between the months of August to September. On the day the Kacharu Leaves are being dipped in besan and deep fried in oil. The Gaddis even have the custom of eating Babrus on the day.
Lohri is a name given to a particular festivity of the Gaddi Tribe. On the following day the Gaddis eat Khichari made of rice along with mashed dal. The items taste better when eaten with curd and desi ghee.
As the Gaddis are dedicated worshippers of Lord Shiva they celebrate the Shivratri festival with complete dedication. The festival takes place on the month of Phalgun, which is between the months of February and March. On the day people of the Gaddi tribe even keep fasts and they restrain themselves from eating cereals.

Apart from the following festivities the Gaddis take to celebrating Holi, Dussehra and Janamashtmi. All occasions are grandly commemorated with special zeal and fervor.

The most renowned Gaddi topi and it is even known as Gaddi cap. This is a kind of wear which is prevalent in all parts of Himachal Pradesh. The particular community has great stamina and they are known to have immense physical capability. They easily carry loads on their backs and walk for miles. As their main walking region is the Himalayas they find it less difficult to go up the steep mountains. The Gaddis are known to be extremely honest. They can work very hard and they are always known to be loving and warm. These days the Gaddis are turning to different professions. Huge sections of the people are doing weaving and farming and some of them are even seeking for governmental jobs.

Frequently associated with the ancient Brahmpur kingdom at Chamba, although they played no major role in its governance, the origins of the Gaddi people are lost in time. There are at least four theories for their arrival in that place, often relying on the intertwining of oral history and myth, and in one case on the dubious ethnohistories of the British Raj era. Omacanda Ha??a discusses the dubiety of these and concludes that "Nevertheless, it may be said with due certainty that the present-day Gaddis are the descendants of one of those casteless nomadic shepherds of the Indian plains who once lived around the Barmer area of Rajasthan" and infers this from the similarities of various costumes and accessories.