Ethnobotanical Wisdom among the Kiratas and Hindu-Gujjar Tribes in Dharampur Region of Mandi District, Himachal Pradesh, (India)

Author: Gulshan Kumar and Sampy Duggal

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Abstract

The present paper deals with the documentation of field observations on traditional use of medicinal and aromatic plants by the inhabitants of area of Dharampur region of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh in North-Western Himalaya. These hills range are inhabited by different ethnic groups including two main tribes, Kiratas and Hindu-gujjars. These inhabitants have been dependent directly on the plant resources for food, fuel, fiber, timber, household articles and medicines to a great extent for ages. A large number of plants of local flora are used to cure various ailments of human and livestock. First hand information about 88 plants from Dharampur region belonging to 42 families were recorded by conducting extensive field surveys during February to September, 2018. The information is represented in a tabulated form as scientific names of plants followed by family in alphabetic order and collected as Herb, Shrub and Tree. Information on vernacular names of plants, parts used and dis

Keywords

Ethnobotanical; Kiratas; Hindu-Gujjars; Traditional usage; Dharampur

Conclusion

The Kiratas and Hindu-Gujjar of Dharampur region constitute an important segment of the population in the region who have in-depth knowledge of diverse plant. The infinite ethnobotanical knowledge of this tribe can also be related to their greater dependency on the wild plant resources for their sustenance because of poor living standards, illiteracy, and poverty. The present study revealed the in-depth ethnobotanical knowledge of the tribes. The local communities have accumulated this immense knowledge through experimentation and modifications since centuries. Knowledge and use of medicinal plants to cure various ailments is part of their life and culture that requires preservation of this indigenous knowledge. In the present scenario, it forms an essential component of sustainable development. But this traditional knowledge which is transferred from one generation to another through the words of mouth is eroding exigently. Thus, there is an urgent need for the documentation of this

References

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How to cite this article

Kumar, Gulshan and Duggal, Sampy (2019). Ethnobotanical Wisdom among the Kiratas and Hindu-Gujjar Tribes in Dharampur Region of Mandi District, Himachal Pradesh, (India). Biological Forum – An International Journal, 11(1): 156-171.