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Lahule
The word Lahule means the dwellers of Lahaul. The aboriginal
Lahaules are a mixture of the aboriginal Munda tribe and the racially
intermixed Tibetans. Lahules are enterprising. Besides farming they are
engaged in trade. Their valley lies on the traditional trade routes to
Ladakh, Sinkrang and beyond. They carried wheat from the plains, and their
own barley to Tibet.
Now that Tibet is closed to them, they export 'Kuth' (a herb used in medicine)
to Kolcuta for onward dispatch to foreign markets. Lahules are divided
into upper and lower classes. Their higher castes are those of Brahmins
and Thakurs. They also have Lohars and Dagis. Their chief religion is
Buddhism. Each well-to-do family has its own shrine with a statue of the
Buddha in it. Their chief temple is Trilokinath. They are a colourful
people and their women adorn their dresses with ornaments. They marry
within their tribe and a woman can have more than one mate. Divorce is
recognised and simple.
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