Sumra, a small village located in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district, has reportedly passed a resolution to ban modern wedding practices that go against the local culture. The resolution, passed unanimously by the village’s gram panchayat on 10 March, aims to preserve the unique amalgam of Hindu, Buddhist, and indigenous beliefs and practices that define the Kinnauri tribe’s culture.
Local disapproval over imported practices in Kinnauri weddings has been growing for a while, with the resolution targeting practices such as mehndi rituals, joota chhipana (hiding the groom’s shoes), cake-cutting, and tying the sehra (headgear for men).
The village’s vice-president, Chhering, stated that the region’s inhabitants are united in preserving their culture and traditions. The Hangrang Rinchen Buddhist Cultural Heritage Foundation, an association that takes decisions relating to local culture and traditions, held a meeting of village representatives in February to discuss upcoming celebrations for Buddha Purnima. During the meeting, some people pointed out modern rituals in Kinnauri weddings, leading to the decision to take steps to protect tribal culture.
Other villages in the region may soon follow Sumra’s lead and institute their own “bans.” According to Saroj Devi, pradhan of Sumra gram panchayat, leaders of other gram panchayats also agreed to “pass such a resolution before Buddha Purnima.”
The resolution has been welcomed by Himachal Pradesh tribal development and revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi, who is the MLA from Kinnaur. He emphasized that preserving local culture is important, and that there is no need to adopt or copy from anywhere else. However, a government official in the state’s panchayati raj department noted that the wedding “bans” do not carry any legal weight.
Preserving Kinnauri Culture: A Ban on Modern Wedding Practices
In an effort to preserve local culture and traditions, Sumra, a village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district, has banned modern wedding practices that go against the Kinnauri tribe’s unique beliefs and practices.
Growing Disapproval of Imported Practices
The resolution passed by Sumra’s gram panchayat aims to curb modern practices such as mehndi rituals, joota chhipana, cake-cutting, and tying the sehra, which are inspired by Bollywood and Punjabi culture. According to Chhering, the vice-president of Sumra gram panchayat, other villages in the region may soon institute their own “bans” on such practices.
United for Culture Preservation
The Hangrang Rinchen Buddhist Cultural Heritage Foundation, which takes decisions relating to the preservation of local culture and traditions, held a meeting in February to discuss upcoming celebrations for Buddha Purnima. During the meeting, attendees pointed out modern rituals in Kinnauri weddings, leading to the decision to take steps to protect tribal culture. Saroj Devi, pradhan of Sumra gram panchayat, stated that leaders of other gram panchayats also agreed to “pass such a resolution before Buddha Purnima.”
Welcomed by Local Leaders
Himachal Pradesh tribal development and revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi welcomed the resolution, emphasizing the importance of preserving local culture. He noted that there is no need to adopt or copy from anywhere else. However, a government official in the state’s panchayati raj department stated that the wedding “bans” do not carry any legal weight.
(With inputs from ThePrint)
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