Rural Himachal - Village life in Himachal

Posted Date: 21-May-2010		Category: Himachal Information
Author: RR	Member Level: Gold
Rating:	Points: 25 (Rs 4)

Himachal Pradesh is one state in India where almost 80% of population lives in villages. Despite that the literacy rate in Himachal is almost 100%. Just because of this reason we see urbanization of villages in Himachal. Though people live in villages they have all the amenities of a city except for the big Malls and Markets.

Himachal Pradesh is one state in India where almost 80% of population lives in villages. Nevertheless the literacy rate in Himachal is almost 100%. Just because of this reason we see urbanization of villages in Himachal. Though people live in villages they have all the amenities of a city except for the big Malls and Markets.

I would like to share my experience of visiting a village in Himachal which in true sense is a village. The name of the village is Lanjhani in Kangra District. It comes under Shahpur Assembly.When I reached this village my first experience was the Kacha road (non metalled). I had to reach there by crossing a small riveret(known as Khudd in local language)without any bridge(it was under construction from many years).

Lot of farms amidst green trees could be seen and this site was really mesmerising. There were people working in the farms and segregating the grass from the wheat crop. They use this green grass for feeding their cattle. I saw another man climbing on the tree and cutting its branchlets with green leaves. The green leaves are again used to feed their cattle.

It was evening time and few kids were playing Gilly danda and others were playing marbles in the primary school premises which was closed. Lot of chirruping sounds of birds could be heard and they were heading towards their nests after sunset. When I walked few meters away it was a cattle house with cows and buffalos. One man and a woman were milking the cow and the buffalo.On the other side a man was coming with a bundle of wood on his head and driving his goat towards home.

Few young people were chatting in one corner of house made of mud bricks. On the way I also saw horses with bells on their necks. The sound of the bells sound very pleasing when the horses were taking steps. Few ladies were heading towards their homes with buckets and pots of water on the heads from Babri(A natural source of water).

Finally I reached the home where I was destined to reach. It was one of the farmer's house who used to work in our farms long ago. The temperature had gone down drastically as it was the month of December. The man lived in a kucha house (made of mud bricks). There was a long verandah in the house with Angan (big space in front of the house). On the sides of Angan there were lot of Fruit trees.

He had stored lot of dry wood which is used especially in winters to protect from the cold waves. They are burnt as a bone fire in the angan of the house. The kitchen didn't have any gas or sink. There was Chulah and woods were burnt to to prepare food.

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