| People
Scores of races, communities and cultures have intermingled in Himachal.
The crime rate is very low. There faiths are simple, beliefs primitive
and myths difficult to fathom. A birth, a fair, a community gathering,
a marriage, a festival all provide them opportunity for song and dance.
Their has been relatively a closed society. They hardly ever lock up their
houses. There are few instances of theft or trickery. They firmly believe
that all their act whether good or bad are recorded in heaven and their
proportions, shall eventually decide their next birth.
Ninety three percent of the state population are engaged in agriculture.
Most of the land is owned by Rajputs, Brahmins and Mahajans (the high
caste) who dominate the economic and political life of the state. They
dominate in ritual status too. The low castes who form about 24% of the
population are mostly artisans. They depend on the high castes for their
livelihood and hold them in respect. The relationship is gradually changing
to interdependence with the implementation of social and agrarian reforms.
The people of Himachal love colour. Their dress patterns
follow the local climate. The people of Lahaul wear long gowns and trousers
but their gowns do not have mandarin sleeves. They wear grass or leather
boots. Their caps indicate the region they come from.
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