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Months after President Droupadi Murmu notified the inclusion of the Hattee community in the Himachal Pradesh’s Scheduled Tribes list, the State government on Monday issued the necessary directions to all departments for the implementation of the new classification.
The implementation of the inclusion had been held up for this long over a confusion in the state government as to who the Hattees of the Trans-Giri area of Sirmour district were.
As the term ‘Hattee’ is also used to describe people already classified as Scheduled Castes.
Hattee community
The Hattee community is a fascinating group of people with a rich history and unique cultural identity.
The Hattees are a closely-knit community residing primarily in the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border region, specifically in the basin of the Giri and Tons rivers.
Their estimated population stands at around 3 lakhs.
They have been known for their occupation as haat traders, selling homegrown crops, vegetables, meat, and wool in small-town markets called "haats."
The Hattees have a distinct language, Hatti or Pahari, which belongs to the Western Pahari group of Indo-Aryan languages.
Their cultural practices are deeply intertwined with their natural environment and traditional way of life.
Music and dance play a significant role in their celebrations and rituals.
Their attire is also unique, with women often wearing brightly colored saris and men sporting kurtas and dhotis.
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