| Jaunsar-Bawar | |
| — village — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Uttarakhand |
| District(s) | Dehradun |
| Population | 3,497 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 2,118 metres (6,949 ft) |
Jaunsar-Bawar is a hilly region, 85 km from Mussoorie, in Chakrata tehsil, in Dehradun district, it represents the geographical region inhabited by the 'Jaunsari' tribe, which traces its origin from the Pandavas of Mahabharata.[1][2]
Ethnically, Jaunsar-Bawar comprises two regions, inhabited by the two predominant tribes: 'Jaunsar', the lower half, while the snow-clad upper region is called 'Bawar', which includes, the 'Kharamba peak' (3084 mts.).[3] Geographically adjacent, they are not very different from each other. the Bawar lies in the upper regions of the area. they are a unique tribal community because they have remained cut off from the external world for centuries, leading to the retention of their unique culture and traditions, which have attracted historians, anthropologist and studies in Ethno-Pharmacology to this region for over a century. the Jaunsaris with their light eyes, fair skin and facial features clearly distinguish from other people of Garhwal, living close by.[4]
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The Jaunsar-Bawar region, is a tribal valley, spread over 1002 km² and 400 villages,[5] between 77.45' and 78.7'20" East to 30.31' and 31.3'3" North.[3] It is defined in the east, by the river Yamuna and by river Tons in the west, the northern part comprises Uttarkashi district, and some parts of Himachal Pradesh, the Dehradun tehsil forms its southern peripery.[3]
Modes of livelihood in this region are agriculture and animal husbandry, which in the upper region is mostly for self-sustenance, as merely 10 percent of cultivated area is irrigated. Milk, wool and meat are an integral part of the local economy.[4] Jaunsar-Bawar it is the place where even today people don't lock their houses and if somebody left behind in completing any farming activity then all the other villagers would help them in order to celebrate their little festival that is
In 1829, Jaunsar-Bawar was incorporated in Chakrata tehsil, prior to which it had been a part of Punjab state of Sirmur, till the British conquered it along with Dehradun after the 1814 war with the Gurkhas.[6]
Before the establishment of British Indian Army cantonment in 1866, the entire was known as Jaunsar-Bawar, and the name continued to be in popular use for the region, till early 20th century.[7] While western Hindi was popular in most of the neighbouting hill areass, 'Jaunsari' language, part of the Central Pahari languages was spoken by most of the people of the region.[8]
Traditionally, Jaunsar-Bawar region has been known as its rich reserves of forested areas, in the high hills region, with trees of Deodar, Pine, and spruce, made for it becoming an important destination for the timber even during the British period, when the logs were rolled down the slopes and floated on Yamuna river to Delhi.[9] gate system which was begin since the time of Britishers is now had came to an end
The culture of the local Jaunsari tribe is distinct from other hill tribes in Garhwal, Kumaon and Himachal Pradesh,[10] a fact demonstrated by the presence of polygamy and polyandry in the local traditions, with richer tribesmen practicing polygamy, while their poor counterparts, choose to share a wife (polyandry), though the husbands should be brothers,[11] a fact which is often connected to, the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata, marrying Draupadi, from whom Jaunsaries trace their ethinic origin.[4][12][13] Though, anthropology studies in the 1990s revealed that these practises were fast phasing out, and is being replaced by monogamy [14][15]
An important aspect of their culture are festive sports and dances like the folk dance named 'Barada Nati'/Harul/Raso/ during all festive occasions,[16] like 'Magh Mela' which is the most important festival of the Jaunsaries, it is marked by an animal sacrifice ritual, which celebrates the killing of 'Maroj', an ogre, which according to local legends, stalked the valleys for years.[5]
During festivals, people wear the Thalka or Lohiya, which is a long coat. The dancers - both boys and girls - wear colorful traditional costumes.[10] Bissu is an important festival of Jaunsars and Bawars.
The Jaunsari tribe of the region has been using over 100 plants for the treatment of various ailments, which have remained a subject for many Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharamcological studies.[17][18]
Traditionally, due to abject poverty, arising from infertile land and adverse climatic conditions in the region, bonded labour has been a fact of life, but the situation improved after the implementation of the 'Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976', when over 20,000 bonded labours were reported from the region, but practise never left the region, and in 2005, presence bonded labourers was reported again in the Jaunsar-Bawar region,[19] especially amongst poorest of the tribal communities, like Koltas, Das and Bajgi communities, who are entrapped in the bonded labour for generations, by their rich counterparts in the tribal belt,[20] this is despite the fact that, due to not availability of local land records, the government had made a separate legislation for this area, 'The Jaunsar Bawar Zamindar Abolition of Land Reform Act 1956 (U.P. Act XI of 1956)', which came into effect in July 1961.[21]
Raaste Band Hain Sab, a film based on the work of Dr. Jayoti Gupta, Dept. of Sociology, Delhi University, on Jaunsar-Bawar, and made by Manjira Dutta, won the National Film Award for Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film in 1988.[22]
1. BHANJRA Bhanjra is a small village which is 30 km from Kalsi and Klasi iS 40 km from Dehradun comes under the Tehsil of Kalsi, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. The name of this village is derived from the name of the person BIJA BHAKAN a real thakut of Rana families of Himachal, Jaunsar & Babar. The residents and ruler of this village are RANA (Rana Dynasty) and in the history they have close relations with Ruler of Bhakanua (Himachal), Bastil & Makti (Jaunsar)etc.
