It’s the little things we don’t see | Gaushal, Himachal Pradesh

The hills have always been a meditative space for some and home for many. Over centuries people have been scaling the reaches of the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh in search of passage, home, food or mental peace for the current generation. Living within are resilient communities adapting and thriving amongst nature’s adversities and a physical challenge the terrain offers.

01. A lesson in trading.

Trading the excess to compensate for what was absent.

A lady taking her livestock grazing to the fields near by on a rainy day.

For years we have known the passing of the silk route through different parts of the Himalayas, connecting the subcontinent to Central Asia. A considerable amount of the economy in the region has sustained with trading commodities like wool and livestock for necessities like salt and sugar that wasn’t readily available in the area. An essential part of the trade was maintaining the assets. The people here spent a significant amount of time rearing the animals through different altitudes and seasons to ensure good quality and healthy livestock.

02. A lesson in resource management.

Making provisions for a stormy night.

Fodder and fuel storage within the bounds of the house

A sudden downpour or a snowstorm in the region cut’s off access to the villages from the main highways, movement confined within the house’s bounds. As a yearly practice, the homes are designed to stock up food, fodder and fuel rations for the entire winter season and calculated as per the number of the members in the household and the area available.

03. A lesson in resource distribution.

Slowly adding up for a happier tomorrow.

Freshly steamed siddu with a poopy seed filling.

Trending as one of the lockdown favourites is prepping a sourdough starter. Fuelled by patience, love and time, the starter is regularly fed and maintained to produce quality bread, similar to the starter used to prepare siddu (local bread from Himachal Pradesh). The use of the starter was an essential part of cooking in the region; thus, preparations are necessary with regular feeding. Often households shared the starter.

04. A lesson to be.

It’s essential to take a break and evaluate once in a while.

Snow covered landscapes near the river.

During the winters substantial amount of time indoors, eating and sleeping as things around are a bit inaccessible, and there is very little to do. Time is spent doing something for oneself that is ignored while keeping up with the busy schedule or with your loved ones. This time off is more productive in restarting and refreshing the brain for a new day when the clouds clear up.

The learning is based on anecdotal learnings from different households within Gaushal, Himachal Pradesh, India. Cut off from the main access road, however, the proximity to the city, the villagers have a unique and an efficient system that works on adaptive traditional wisdom, which has evolved into a yearly ritual; that reflects a mélange of management practices that help sustain the people and thrive in the region.