The Kinnaura (also known as Kinners) are an indigenous tribal community inhabiting the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India, in a high-mountain region bordering Tibet. In Hindu mythology, they are regarded as "halfway between humans and gods," known as celestial singers and musicians.
Religious Syncretism: Their faith is a unique blend of Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. Many villages feature both a Hindu temple and a Buddhist monastery (gompa), and villagers participate in rituals from both religions seamlessly.
Deity System (Devta): Each village has its own local deity that governs social and spiritual life through oracles (grokch) who enter trances to communicate the divine will.
Traditional Dress: They are easily recognizable by their green wool hat called a thepang. Women wear a wool dress called a dohru with elaborate silver jewelry, while men wear long coats called chhubha.
Kath Kuni Architecture: They use a traditional construction method alternating cedar wood and stone, designed to be resilient against the frequent earthquakes in the area.
Fraternal Polyandry: Historically, they practiced polyandry (several brothers sharing one wife) to prevent the fragmentation of farmland in a region where fertile soil is scarce. This practice is rapidly disappearing with modernization.
Language: They speak Kinnauri, a language from the Tibeto-Burman family, which has numerous regional dialects.
Economy: Their life revolves around agriculture (especially Kinnaur apples, which are very famous in India) and sheep and goat herding.
Phulech (Festival of Flowers): Celebrated between August and October; villagers climb high into the mountains to collect rare wild flowers to offer to the deities for prosperity.
Sazo and Beesh: These mark seasonal changes and rituals for the spiritual cleansing of temples and homes.
Photo Gallery: © Sylvia Furrer & Holger Hoffmann / India 2009