Buderas—A Pastoralist Community of High Himalayan Society: Migration,Identity,Existence and Belief

Abstract

Buderas are inhabitants of Gangi, Pinswar and Ginwali, three villages in Tehri district of Uttarakhand. They are basically grazers, who, at a certain point of time in history, migrated from Kashmir via Himachal Pradesh. The migration and settlement of Buderas is very interesting, being interwoven with the tale of their deity. They, in general, follow Hinduism, only in certain aspects but are specifically devoted to their deity Somesu or Samosa, as they call it. Somesu is the focal point of their life and society.

In the present article, which is based on my field study of Gangi village in Tehri district of Garhwal, way back in 1999, the focus is on the rituals and worship related to Somesu for the well-being of the cattle folk of the Buderas. How they propitiate and please the deity for taking care of their cattle folk, while away in pastures for months and months, are focal points of the present article. The element of change and continuity in the performance of the rituals and religion is also highlighted in the this article.

Keywords

Budera Gangi Orality Somesu pastoralist migration

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