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The Gaddis are shepherds who move their flocks of sheep from
lower pastures in winter to higher ones after snow melt. Interestingly,
the Gaddis are only found scattered around the Dhauladhars. They call this
area Gadheran or 'the land of the Gaddis'. To them the Dhauladhars are not
just a mountain range but like their mother.
ABOUT GADDIES
The
Gaddis move freely between Chamba
and Kangra when the passes of
the Dhauladhar allow them to do so. In winter they move down south and can
be seen around Kangra,
Mandi and Bilaspur
and in the small villages between Baijnath and Palampur.
Marriages between people living on opposite sides of the Dhauladhar are
common.
Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh are world famous.
The word Gaddi is a generic name and under it are included Brahmins,
'Rajputs', 'Khatris', 'Thakurs' and 'Rathis'. Gaddis are found in Bharmaur
tehsil in Chamba District and
in District Kangra also. There
is no unanimity of the views from where Gaddis migrated to this hill
state. Gaddis are very simple and honest. Local people call Gaddis as
'Mitra' means friends.