Marital and Family Practices among Tribals of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The three tribal communities namely Gaddis, Kinnauras and Bhots of Himachal Pradesh were selected to study their existing marriage and family practices. The respondents were adolescents in the age group of 15-20 years. A total sample of 300 adolescents was selected. The study revealed that all the communities married their daughters between 19-21 years and sons were married later than 21 years. Majority of Bhots and Kinnauras reported non-existence of practices of matching horoscopes. Majority of Gaddis, half of Bhots and one third Kinnauras reported engagement ceremony. Majority of Bhots and Kinnauras and all Gaddis denied the prevalence of polyandry in their communities. Majority of Bhots and Kinnauras reported prevalence of endogamy. Divorce was allowed among Bhots and Kinnauras, whereas remarriage was allowed in all the three communities. Regarding settlement of family disputes, majority of the three communities reported it was the panchayat which helped in settling the family dispute. Vast majority of Bhots and Kinnauras and one third Gaddis reported that women were never beaten in the family. All the three communities denied the daughters getting share in the fathers’ property. Majority of the respondents in the three communities reported both girls and boys were expected to take household responsibilities before 15 years of age.