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Lahule
The word Lahule means the dwellers of Lahaul. The aboriginal Lahaules
are a mixture of the aboriginal Munda tribe and the racially intermixed
Tibetans. Lahules are enterprising. Besides farming they are engaged in
trade. Their valley lies on the traditional trade routes to Ladakh, Sinkrang
and beyond. They carried wheat from the plains, and their own barley to
Tibet. Now that Tibet is closed to them, they export 'Kuth' (a herb used
in medicine) to Kolcuta for onward dispatch to foreign markets. Lahules
are divided into upper and lower classes. Their higher castes are those
of Brahmins and Thakurs. They also have Lohars and Dagis. Their chief
religion is Buddhism. Each well-to-do family has its own shrine with a
statue of the Buddha in it. Their chief temple is Trilokinath. They are
a colourful people and their women adorn their dresses with ornaments.
They marry within their tribe and a woman can have more than one mate.
Divorce is recognised and simple.
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