The tasks and aims of the project:

To conduct an extensive cultural and anthropological survey of Himachal Pradesh with the main goal of collecting, classifying and describing the cultural heritage of the State, for the further preservation and continuation of its ancient traditions.

To undertake short-term expeditions to the most interesting regions of Himachal Pradesh, with the task to collect as much as possible diverse material and artifacts of the cultural, spiritual and folk traditions of the places. Date of these expeditions will be planned specially to coincide with most important festivals and celebrations in the regions concerned. Natural beauty of the State (mountains, national sanctuaries, rivers, lakes and glaciers) will be also covered (video shooting, photography) during these expeditions.

Description of the work to be carried out at each place:

— Preliminary theoretical research of each place and its traditions, preparing for the expedition (Naggar-Kullu).
— Expedition – approx. 1 week to each region.
— Research of all cultural aspects of the place and community concerned; participation at the local festivals, fairs, ceremonies, customs with its: description, video shooting; audio recording; photographing, interviewing, collecting ancient and contemporary artifacts.

Benefits of the project:

Full account of each expedition will be prepared, exhibition made for the Folk Art Museum , covering HP’s regions one by one, with the aim of presenting the whole culture of Himachal as widely as possible. (Photographs, video films, articles about the traditions, collected artifacts).
Educational value – for local students and people, and for all tourists visiting the IRMT.
Brochures and books can be prepared about the places traversed.
As a special task with the aim of educating young people, each time one student from the IRMT Art School (who shows his/her desire for such study) can be taken to participate in the expedition.

Description of the places to be covered:

According to the Puranas, Himachal is the Jalandhar Khand. This sacred land secured in the lap of the Western Himalayas, ancients called ‘Dev Bhumi’.
The isolation of Himachal Pradesh and its lack of contact with the outside world have given uniqueness to its culture, distinctiveness to the social behavior of its people, to their faith and worship, art and architecture, craft, sculpture, music and dance, fairs and festivals, dresses, customs and to their myths and beliefs. It is considered to be a holy land, where every village has its own Devi or Devta to worship. Besides, Himachal is revered in the Hindu Scriptures too.
Culturally, the State has maintained its links with the main stream of Indian life as a whole, but at the same time kept its original distinctiveness. The art of painting, sculpturing, wood, metal and stone carving has given special place to its cultural heritage.

Himachal Pradesh has 12 districts. Shimla, Solan, Sirmmour, Kinnaur, Chamba, Lahul Spiti, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Kangra, Hamirpur, Una.

Himachal has innumerable fairs and festivals. It ranges from the ordinary village fair arranged in obeisance to local deity, to a big state level fairs.

Shimla:

— There are fairs celebrated in many villages of upper Shimla, called Bishu
— Summer festival (Cultural) – in June
— Dussehra in Sarahan (Religious) – in October
— Fag mela in Rampur (Cultural) – in March
— Lavi in Rampur – second week of November
— Pather ka Khel, second day of Diwali at Halog
— Ghund – June, July in Theog

Solan:

— Salooni fair (Cultural) in June
— Sari fair, famous for bull fights, July of every year in Arki

Sirmmour:

— Bishu
— Renuka Fair (Religious), after Diwali, in November
— Baisakhi (Religious) in Rajgarh

Kinnaur:

— Fullaich Fair (Religious) at Ribba
— Flower festival (Ukhyang), a unique tradition preserved in this tribal district; it lasts for three months, August to October every year.

Chamba:

— Minjar festival in July-August for 7 days
— Manimahesh Yatra (Religious) in August
— Nawala festival (Religious), thanks giving ceremony to the Almighty Lord.

Lahul Spiti:

— Ladarcha fair at Kaza (Religious, Cultural) in August
— Pouri fair at Triloknath in August
— Dechhang in December-January
— Losar festival in February
— Halda festival in January
— Gochi – in Keylong, in February
— Bucchen (Religious and Folk Drama) at Spiti; during winter season
— Chheshu (Religious) from May to August

Kullu:

— Dussehra festival in October
— Kahika in August at Larankelo and Shirar
— Fagli in February
— Ganer in January
— Hirnatar (Folk Drama) at Banjar in October
— Diari in December

Mandi:

— Shivratri in February
— Chheshu fair at Riwalsar is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Guru Padma Sambhava for 3 days (May, June)
— Skodi – a Sati fair, held at Dohg village adjoining Joginder Nagar in April every year, for 3 days

Bilaspur:

— Nalwari (Trade fair) in March
— Naina Devi festival (Religious)
— Markandeya (Religious and Historical) in August-September

Kangra:

— Summer festival (Cultural) in Dharamsala
— Shivratri at Kotgarh
— Vrijeshvari (Religious) twice a year during Navaratras; goddess is celebrated for 9 nights
— Jawalaji – during Navaratras
— Chintpuri – during Navaratras

Hamirpur:

— Winter festival
— Holi at Sujanpura Tihra in March

Una - Winter fair (Cultural):

Not a district, but definitely a place of great interest, is Malana. This isolated village in Kullu valley is located on the hill top of Parvati valley (on the other side of Chander khani pass) at the height of about 2473 m. Jamlu Devta is considered by people to be a divine ruler of the village. All the inhabitants of Malana remain under his jurisdiction, professing blind and superstitious belief in Devta, hardly daring to disobey him.

FAMOUS TEMPLES

Shri Tara Devi Temple - Shimla

Hatkoti - Shimla

Shri Hanuman - Jakhu, Shimla

Shri Bhimakali group of temples – Sarahan, Shimla

Shri Durga Mata – Mandi

Shri Naina Devi – Bilaspur

Shri Lakshmi Narayan – Chamba

Shri Vijeshvari – Kangra

Shri Chintpurni – Una

Shri Gopal Damtal – Kangra

Shri Baba Balaknath – Deoth Sidh, Hamirpur

Shri Ayodhyanath – Rampur

Shri Ram Mandir Dai Sahiba Paonta Sahib – Sirmmour

Shri Januki Mai Gupa – Sri Balh, Mandi

Shri Hadimba Ma – Manali

Shri Jagti Pat – Naggar

Shri Shiva – Bajora, Kullu

Shri Mrikula Mata, Udaipur

Shri Triloknath – Lahul Spiti

FAMOUS BUDDHIST MONASTERIES

Sheshur, Kardang, Bokar, Gemur, Topchiling, Gondhla – Lahul

Ki, Dhankar, Teng-Gud, Pin, Tabo – Spiti

Jangi, Kanum, Rarang, Kalpa, Ranglik, Tashigong, Labrang, Sunam, Moorang – Kinnaur

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Indigenous art. Most ancient architecture of Himachal Pradesh is in local style and the base material used is wood.

Indo-Aryan art. This style is preserved in the shapes of local temples, sculptures and paintings.

Indo Tibetan art. This style flourished in Kinnaur, Lahul and Spiti.

Temple art . Over 6ooo temples in Himachal offer variety of architecture and design. They can be categorized into 6 types:

— Nagara
— Pent roofed (single or multi storied)
— Pagoda (Mandap or without mandap)
— Cave
— Gompas
— Flat roofed

Wood art. Very few examples of ancient wood carving have survived in some of the temples in places like Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, upper Shimla in the Satluj valley.
Best wood carvings are found in the temples: Lakshna Devi at Bharmaur; Kali Devi at Mirkula, Lahul (it is remarkable example of timber architecture and sculptural decoration).

Stone art. Is also very ancient craft of the state.

Metal art. The oldest metal mask in Kullu is the mask of Mujni Devi at Nirmand, dated 9th century.

Sculpture. Sculpture representing Shulpani Shiva and Parvati standing with Nandi has been found in Ravi valley, half way between Chamba and Bharmaur.

Handicrafts. Some of important crafts are pottery, basketry, weaving, embroidery, jewelry, clay work, wood and stone work. These crafts constitute the very essential of the pahari culture which caters to their material needs as well as their mental and spiritual aspirations.

Ornaments. Important ornaments used in Himachal Pradesh are Chhak, a hollow ‘U’ shaped silver ornament.
Shangdi and Tika ornaments are placed on forehead.
Ear ornaments: Dabdi, Kanday or Kantay, Darotu, Mungri tops and Bragar.
Nose ornaments are Long, Tilli, Kadolu, Nath.
Neck ornaments: Kaach, Hansli, Dasda, Jantar, Haar, Kanthi.
Wrist ornaments: Shangley, Choodiyan band.
Finger: Anguthi.
Ankles: Paizab.

Many of these ornaments are being used only during the festivals.

Dress.
Male dress - gandhian cap or Kullu and Busheri cap, kurta, with or without collar, and jacket (also called sadri). The jhaggi (long kurta) is tied with a gachi (wollen rope) around the waist. Kurta and blanket, cap or pagri, cholu are also worn traditionally by menfolk.
Female dress – dhatu is used as a head dress. Chapkan, rebdar pyjama. The chopta or chhupta ‘V’ shaped neck cut garment touching the knees is like a chapkan.

CUSTOMS

Customs represent some system observed in the form of different ceremonies which are obligatory, a kind of moral consciousness of community developed through the ages. They reveal habits and character of individuals, as they are inherent source of one’s cultural background. Thus, customs are that norm of voluntary action yet binding for social existence, which come into being and practice through generations in a clan, society or a tribal community. As a matter of fact, it is because of customs that different societies, tribes, states and nations have distinctions. As far as Himachal Pradesh is concerned, its seclusion from the rest of the world, more due to geographical placing, makes its people conservative and its customs comparatively rigid and immutable.

— Birth customs.
— Mundan (hair cutting ceremony)
— Zang zang custom. This strange custom (prolonged argument between the guest and host over the offering and refusal of food) belongs to Bhaga valley of Lahul Spiti.
— Marriage customs.
— Death ceremonies.

MUSIC, DANCE, SONGS, DRAMA

One of the common feature of all fairs and festivals are folk dances with traditional music and singing. In this occasion, traditional music instruments such as: Dhol, Nagara, Harnsingha, Kairnal, Shahnai are being used. Folk dramas, such as Kariyala, Banthara, Swang, Hirnatar, Chham, Bhuchen are sometimes staged in the evenings, providing lot of entertainment and education to the people. Every traditional fair has in its origin a peculiar legend, wherein local people have their unflinching faith.

LAKES AND HOT SPRINGS

Ghadararu lake – Chamba district, situated at an altitude of 3505 m.

Deshaur lake – altitude 4200m, located above Marhi on the ridge leading to Rohtang pass, also called Shelasar.

Khajjiar lake – 20 km from Dalhousie in Chamba.

Manimahesh lake, situated in the Budhil valley near Bharmmour, close to Manimahesh Kailash peak, 5656m. State level fair is held here every year in August-September.

Mahakali Devi lake, in Churaha area of Chamba, at an altitude appr. 3657 m.

Lama Dal lake, consists of seven lakes, situated at the height of 3962 m, 45 km east of Chamba, 20 km from Darkund.

Riwalsar, situated 24 km from Mandi, is a cup like lake, surrounded by hills.

Prashar lake, located at an altitude of 2730 m, on a bowl shaped hill top between Bajaura Kullu.

Bhrigu lake – situated at the height of 4235 m, near Rohtang pass.

Chandertal lake, meaning the lake of moon, is in legend related to Shiva. Its altitude is 4270 m.

Suraj Tal, the source of Bhaga river, is situated at an altitude of 4800m.

Nako lake, in Kinnaur at the height of 4300 m.

Renuke lake, is the biggest natural lake, 45 km from Nahan in Sirmaur district.

Three artificial lakes:

Gobind Sagar, Bilaspur;

Pong lake, Kangra;

Pandoh lake, Mandi.

Hot water springs:

— Manikaran springs, originate from a fractured granite rock situated in the beautiful Parvati valley of Kullu.

— Kalth springs near Manali.

— Vashisht near Manali.

— Tattapani sulphur springs, 51 km from Shimla.

RIVERS, PEAKS, GLACIERS

The main river system of HP are Chenab Chandra Bhaga, Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Yamuna.

Peaks : Shilla – 7026 m; Gyech – 6794 m in Spiti; Leo Pargial – 6791 m in Kinnaur; Shigri Parbal – 6578 m, Kollu Pamori – 6481 m in Lahul Spiti; Kiner Kailash – 6473 in Kinnaur; Gyephang – 6400 in Lahul Spiti; Deo Tibba – 6002 in Kullu; Hanuman Tibba – 5930 m; Baralacha – 5000m.

Glaciers : Bara Shigri, Chandra the Lady of Keylong, Makila, Bhaga Sonapani, Mukkila and Miyar.

WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES IN HP

Kullu district:

— Tirthan National Park, situated 10 km from Bandal, Gushani. Best to visit – April-May, August-October
— Kanawar in Kasol, Manikaran
— Manali – 3 km from Manali
— Kokhan – 20 km from Bhuntar
— Kais – Kullu

Mandi:

— Shikkori Devi
— Dandi
— Nargu.

Kinnaur:

— Rupi Bhaba
— Lippa Assang
— Raskshan Chitkul

Shimla:

— Tara
— Dranghati
— Churdhar.

Sirmaur:

— Renuka
— Simbalbara

Solan:

— Chail
— Shilli
— Darlaghat
— Majalthal
— Harsang

Kangra:

— Pong Lake

Lahul Spiti:

— Pin valley national park

Bilaspur:

— Naina Devi
— Govind Sagar

Chamba:

— Gamgul-Siya
— Sachutuan Nullah
— Kugti Kalatop
— Khajjlar Tundah