Pahari culture: languages, dress, crafts and village deities

"Pahari" — literally "of the hills" — is a loose label for the culture of the western Himalayan foothills, and Himachal Pradesh sits at its centre. It is not one culture but many closely related ones, changing valley by valley.

Languages

Hindi is the state's official language and the medium of most schooling and media, but at home people speak a range of Pahari dialects: Kangri in Kangra, Mandeali in Mandi, Kullvi in Kullu, Mahasu Pahari around Shimla, and distinct languages in the tribal districts — Kinnauri in Kinnaur, and Bhoti (a Tibetan language) in Spiti. Many of these are not mutually intelligible.

Dress

Wool is the constant. The men's pattu or loia cloak, the women's dhatu headscarf, and the rounded Kullu topi and green-and-red Bushahri topi caps are still worn, especially at festivals. Kinnauri dress adds a distinctive flat cap with a coloured band and heavy silver jewellery. The Kullu shawl, woven with geometric end borders, has a Geographical Indication tag.

Crafts

Handloom weaving — shawls, pattu, blankets — is the best-known craft, centred on Kullu and Kinnaur. Chamba is known for the Chamba rumal, a fine double-satin-stitch embroidered handkerchief, and for Pahari miniature painting, a court style you can see at the Bhuri Singh Museum. Woodcarving appears on temple doors and balconies throughout the state.

Temple architecture and the devta tradition

Two building styles dominate older temples: the tiered wooden pagoda form (the Hidimba Devi temple is the famous example) and the tall stone shikhara form seen at Baijnath and Masroor. Many villages have their own devta or devi — a local deity whose image is carried on a palanquin (rath) to fairs and consulted on village matters through a medium. The gathering of these deities is what makes festivals like Kullu Dussehra and Mandi's Shivratri distinctive.

Music and dance

Nati, a slow circular group dance done in a line holding hands, is performed at almost every celebration; the Kullu nati has been recognised as one of the largest folk dances by participation. Drums (dhol, nagara) and the shehnai-like karnal and ranasingha horns accompany temple processions.