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Language
Hindi is the state language but people mostly converse in 'Pahari'. This
language has various dialects or sub-languages. Grierson in his linguistic
survey had called it 'Western Pahari' and had demarcated its area from
Jainsar Bawar in the Uttar Pradesh hills (near Dehra Dun) to Bhadarwah
in Jammu and Kashmir. The various dialects of Pahari spoken in the region
are Mandiali (in Mandi), Kulavi (in Kulu), Kehluri (in Bilaspur), Hinduri
(in Nalagarh), Chameali (in Chamba), Sirmauri (in Sirmur), Miahasvi (in
Mahasu region) and Pangwali (in Pangi). Besides, there are the dialects
of Bhot orgin, the Kinnauri, the Lahauli and the Spitian. All dialects
of Pahari are of Sanskritic origin. They have been written differently
in different times. In earlier days they were written in 'Tankri' or 'Thahau',
but later during the Muslim period they were written in the Persian script
and then again in Devanagiri.
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