COMMUNITIES

There are many number of communities living in Lahoul. Each of them play vital role in social life of Lahoul. Swangla, Bodh, Lohars and Shipis are the main communities in the Lahoul.The tribes in Lahoul are distributed by religion and occupation, and differ from each other in all these aspects. The word used in Lahoul for a clan is 'rus', which means 'bone'. It is applied to those who descended from a common ancestor. The Swanglas are prominent in Pattan valley. They are generally Aryan and their religion is Hinduism. Bodhs are universal in Bhaga and Chandra valleys. 

They also appear in Pattan valley where they are overshadowed by Swangla Brahmans. They are of Mongoloid stock and profess Buddhism. Shipis are mainly cultivators. They assist Swanglas and Bodhs at marriages and funerals. They are considered to be Aryans. Lohars are called Dombas in Bhaga and Chandra valleys and Lohar in Pattan valley.Caste taboos have loosened greatly. Swanglas who earlier restricted themselves from mixing with Bodhs now no longer do so. They now dont mind eating and sitting with them and also had accept Bodh girls in marriage.Now these distinctions have disappeared.