The project is working with groups in the six distinct bio-cultural zones of Tud, Tinnan and Pattan valleys in Lahaul, and Pin, Upper and Lower Spiti. Almost all villages in these regions have been touched, and the identified hubs in each bio-cultural zone - including Kungri, Sagnam, Lossar, Dangkhar, Demul, Lalung, Mane, Poh, Jispa, Rarik, Kollong, Darcha, etc. - are being worked with intensively.

Heritage Research & Preservation

Cultural Zoning & Documentation ~ Preliminary studies have found that there are several geo-cultural zones within the district of Lahaul & Spiti, differences in biophysical features having led to cultural distinctiveness. Preliminary inventorying of the cultural resources of each geo-cultural zone has been completed and further in-depth study is being carried out on select cultural aspects like family and customs, social and political structure, material culture. Extensive surveys are being conducted, eliciting information from the host communities using a mix of PRA techniques and interviews. The use, history, artistic lineage of each cultural asset are being documented.

Community Awareness Building ~ The organisation’s focus on engendering community stewardship had the Pragya team travelling through the entire district, conducting awareness programmes and galvanising community interest in the preservation of the region’s cultural heritage. Community meetings were conducted for groups of contiguous villages and this was followed by an all-district programme for imparting conservation concepts to select community representatives and facilitate them in prioritising the cultural aspects under threat and developing conservation plans.

Grassroots Heritage Management Institutions ~ Grassroots community institutions, Cultural Heritage Conservation Councils (CHCCs) have been constituted for each geo-cultural zone in the district, comprising community members from the area. The purpose of these institutions is the sustainable management of the cultural heritage of the region, carrying out local level culture conservation activities. The groups have been formally registered with the district authorities and the members have been trained to enable them to manage the various project facilities and interventions in a sustainable manner.

Rural Museums & Restoration Efforts ~ The rich cultural legacy of the target region finds material expression in its variegated handicrafts, artefacts, ornaments and the like. Much of this precious history was however either lost or not available for public gaze. Pragya has established a network of Rural Museums in the district which display the ancient artefacts - ornaments, utensils and other objects of human interest & value. Each Rural Museum represents a geo-cultural zone, the artefacts in the museum a window to the immediate local area and its unique culture. Four Rural Museums have been set up in the region - in the villages of Jispa in Lahaul and Kungri, Lossar and Dhangkar in Spiti. Beautifully displayed, complete with description of each artefact, these rural museums have generated enormous pride in the community and are drawing enthusiastic visitors. Efforts have also been made towards restoration of the artefacts in the museums and the museum caretakers have been provided training in conservation. Several promotional measures are being undertaken in order to increase awareness about the museums among both the local inhabitants and the tourists to the region, viz, promotional boards at strategic locations, pamphlets, package tours, linkages with tour operarors.

Revitalisation & Promotion of Cultural Forms

Documentation of Cultural Forms ~ The richness of the various cultural forms have been fading over time and there is a critical need to document them before they die and in order to revitalise them. The project is tapping the identified experts in the region in order to document the traditional cultural forms, viz, arts, crafts, architecture, etc.. Indexing of the traditional songs and dances of each zone has been undertaken. A publication has been brought out of the lyrics of traditional songs of one geo-cultural zone and those of other geo-cultural zones are under compilation. Audio-visual documentation of the songs and dances of each zone is also proposed. Independent documentation studies are being carried out of the various crafts, their weaves, material, motifs, etc., and of the architectural styles of the region. These are being compiled into reports and kept for reference in the Development Resource Centre (DRC) established in Keylong (Lahaul). The DRC is a comprehensive documentation cum reference centre for all kinds of information pertaining to the region of Lahaul & Spiti.

Revival of Bhoti Language and Traditional Music & Dance ~ Language is most often the vehicle for culture, and the erosion of other cultural forms and even traditional knowledge systems in the target region may be traced to the diminishing use of the indigenous language. Pragya is therefore conducting several (more than 40) village level classes for reviving the knowledge of Bhoti language, the indigenous language of the region. Local experts of Bhoti language have been enlisted as teachers and provided intensive teacher’s training with inputs on lesson planning and delivery, teaching aids & methods and techniques of evaluation. One such programme has been conducted in collaboration with the Dept. of Language and Culture, Himachal Pradesh. A formal, detailed syllabus and standardized course content, and innovative teaching methodologies (short stories, prayers, essays, songs, poems, visual cards, drawings, dictionaries and several play-and learn techniques) have also been developed. Similar village-level classes are being conducted for the traditional music and dance as well, and performances at local events are being promoted in order to ensure continuance and spread of the art forms.

Troupes & Performances ~ Music & dance troupes have also been constituted for the learners of music & dance to perform before tourists and at festivals. A training programme was also conducted for these troupes focussing on stage management, choreography, facial expressions & body movements for stage performances, stage presentation skills, troupe management. Channels and linkages are also being developed with organisations like the North Zone Culture Centre (NZCC), a common platform to promote the culture of different regions in North India. The troupes are being registered and have already given several performances at local events and festivals and a few have also given their first performances outside their region to applauding audiences.

Resuscitating Handicrafts ~ The disappearing handicrafts of the region have been studied in depth, their product development possibilities assessed and market potential evaluated. Training for skill upgradation and product improvement & diversification and market exploration has been imparted to craftspersons from the region in collaboration with Pearl Academy of Fashion and National Institute of Design. The first phase has been focussed on weaving forms- the art of lingche and pherba weaving and soktens and pulas. Since most of these products made use of natural dyes in the past, an orientation programme was conducted by the Wool Research Association to revive the practice. Expert designers have been drawn in for developing market-focussed product alternates and the craftspersons are being provided training in producing these alternates as well.

Crafts Enterprises ~ Craftspersons (primarily women weavers) have been constituted into self-help-groups for commercial production of traditional crafts. Revolving funds have been set up for input purchase and sales promotion and logistics for these SHGs. A weaving centre equipped with different types of looms has also been set up in Lossar village in Spiti. A set of about 100 alternate products that include hand bags, sling bags, small pouches, table mats, runners, cushion covers, jackets, miniature masks and chughtu mats have been developed by these SHGs and these have been kept for sale in the CPCs.

Culture Promotion Centres ~ Each rural museum is typically a part of a larger complex for Culture Promotion which includes apart from the rural museum, crafts showrooms, and at places heritage interpretation/exhibition centres. Products based on the traditional arts & crafts, both in their traditional forms as well as modified to modern-day uses, are available for sale in these showrooms. All products are handcrafted by the crafts SHGs constituted and the Heritage Conservation Councils manage the revenues ensuring that the profits go directly to the craftspersons. At the proposed Heritage Interpretation Centre, a visitor could even get to see a performance by a local music & dance troupe or an exhibition on some particular cultural aspect, and also perhaps, interact with some local artisan as well.

Up Ahead . . .

Tinnan and Pattan valleys of Lahaul will also be addressed. Heritage Conservation Councils will be constituted and a Culture Promotion Centre, including a Rural Museum and a Crafts Showroom, will be established in each valley. Heritage Interpretation Centres - one in Lahaul and another in Spiti - are also on the anvil.

Publications on the research and documentation activities carried out will include: reports and booklets, local music cassettes and CDs, museum folders.