GUJJARS
The
hill people of Kashmir, called Gujjars, mostly herdsmen by occupation, are
found in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir. They are said to be Rajputs who
had migrated from Rajasthan and adopted the Muslim faith. They are tall and
well-built, with a prominently Jewish cast of features. Their dialect, Gujari
is now identified as a form of a Rajasthani. They raise sheep and cattle. Their
nutritious diet consists of maize bread, whey, jungle roots and fruits.
The dress of a Gujjar woman of the hills in the valley is very much similar to
that worn by the Turkish village women. It consists of as ample shalwar and
full-skirted tunic with loose sleeves. A thick veil on the head falls back to
the shoulders. The Gujjar woman knit their hair in multiple plaits which hang in
front, covering half of their moon-shaped faces.
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