Gujjar and Bakkarwal communities

Subject: Geography

Context:

Bangas Awaam Mela’ held in Jammu and Kashmir to mark Article 370 abrogation anniversary.  It saw the participation of hundreds of Gujjars, Bakarwals.

Concept:

• The Gujjars and Bakarwals are the two unique ethnic nomadic groups that rear flocks of sheep and goat between high and low altitudes of Western Himalayas.
• In summer, these groups migrate to upper reaches of the valley and in winter, they take their flocks to the lower areas of the valley to protect themselves from the harsh cold.
• The habitat of these people is in the hilly terrain of the North-Western Himalayas.

Transhumance

• Transhumance, form of pastoralism or nomadism organized around the migration of livestock between mountain pastures in warm seasons and lower altitudes the rest of the year.