High in the Himalayan mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, a remarkable community continues a centuries-old tradition that follows the rhythm of the seasons. The Bakarwal tribe, whose very name speaks to their heritage as caretakers of livestock, represents one of India’s most distinctive nomadic pastoral communities. Their lives unfold across mountain passes and meadows, embodying a resilience that has allowed them to thrive in some of the region’s most challenging terrains while facing mounting pressures from modernization and environmental change.
Table of Contents
Origins and the pastoral identity
The Bakarwal are a nomadic Muslim ethnic group primarily inhabiting the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, where they have been recognized as a Scheduled Tribe since 1991. Their name derives from the words “bakra,” meaning goat or sheep, and “wal,” meaning one who takes care of-a fitting designation for a community whose identity is deeply intertwined with livestock herding. According to the 2011 Census, their population in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 113,198, though community advocates suggest actual numbers may be higher due to the challenges of counting nomadic populations.
What truly defines the Bakarwal is their practice of transhumance-the seasonal migration with livestock between different elevations. Starting in April, when temperatures rise in the plains, Bakarwal families begin their annual journey to the highland pastures known as “Dokhs”, arriving by June after traversing several high-altitude passes with their households and animals. This cycle reverses in September and October when snow begins falling on the highland pastures, compelling them to return to the lower valleys where winters are milder and more suitable for both people and livestock.
The migration routes are extensive and demanding. Bakarwal families traverse vast areas from the Pir Panjal Range to Zanskar, passing through regions like Suru Valley and Kargil in Ladakh. Their journeys often cover hundreds of kilometers on foot, with men herding the flocks while women carry younger children on their backs in cloth slings. Horses bear the weight of tents, blankets, cooking utensils, clothes, and essential medicines-everything needed for months of life in the highlands.
Social fabric and cultural connections
The social structure of the Bakarwal community is loosely organized around extended families or clans, with their social fabric deeply tied to their nomadic existence. Unlike settled village communities, Bakarwal kin groups stay close to each other during migrations, providing mutual support in herding and protecting their flocks. Leadership within the community is informal, with elders holding respected positions and serving as decision-makers during conflicts or times of need.
Bakarwals and Gujjars are often grouped together as a single social and ethnic community due to their shared ancestry, language, religion, and cultural practices. Both groups speak dialects of Gojri and practice Sunni Islam. However, they are distinguished by their traditional occupations: Bakarwals are primarily nomadic pastoralists who rear sheep and goats, while Gujjars are more settled and typically rear cows and buffaloes. Together, they constitute approximately 20% of the Jammu and Kashmir population, making them the third-largest ethnic group in the region.
Traditional Bakarwal attire reflects their functional needs and cultural identity. Men typically wear long flowing garments paired with headgear-either caps or turbans known locally as “safoo” or “lungi”-along with woolen cloaks called “chogas” to protect against harsh mountain weather. Women wear colorful garments including long skirts called “Pheran”, adorned with beautiful jewelry and headscarves. The community is known for the silver ornaments worn by women, which represent both cultural tradition and portable wealth.
However, the younger generation is increasingly leaving traditional dress behind, with men now preferring plain kurta-pajamas and women choosing floral prints. Turbans are rarely worn by younger males, and the traditional “topi” headgear for women is becoming uncommon among girls. This shift represents broader cultural changes occurring within the community as they engage more with mainstream society.
The demanding cycle of seasonal movement
The Bakarwal calendar is governed entirely by the needs of their livestock and the availability of pasture. During summer months, families ascend to high-altitude meadows, often above 3,000 meters, where lush green pastures provide ample grazing for their animals. The cooler climate at these elevations helps the animals thrive and offers respite from the scorching heat of the plains below. This seasonal pattern is not merely a lifestyle choice but a survival strategy refined over generations.
The journey to these highland pastures is far from easy. Families must navigate heavily trafficked roads that eventually give way to narrow mountain tracks. Males herd the flocks while negotiating challenging terrain, and the migration requires immense physical strength and mental fortitude. Special guardian dogs accompany the families, protecting livestock from predators in the wild mountain environments.
Once winter arrives and higher altitudes become harsh and inhospitable due to snow and extreme cold, the Bakarwals make their descent to the lower valleys, typically in the Jammu region. This annual migration ensures that animals have access to fresh grazing grounds year-round while keeping people in favorable environments. The timing of these movements is critical-too early or too late, and families risk encountering dangerous weather conditions or inadequate pasture for their livestock.
Contemporary challenges and environmental pressures
The traditional Bakarwal way of life faces unprecedented challenges in the modern era. Climate change has emerged as a significant threat to their pastoral lifestyle. Changing precipitation patterns, increasing surface temperatures, receding glaciers, and unseasonal snowfall all pose serious risks to the community’s survival. A tragic incident in 2009 highlighted these dangers when the tribe began their seasonal migration one month ahead of schedule due to unusually warm weather, only to be trapped by unseasonal snowfall that continued for two weeks, killing more than 50 people and countless animals.
Due to decreased rainfall over the past 20 years, transhumance calendars have shifted and rainy seasons have become unpredictable. Pastures that once provided abundant grazing have turned into barren lands. Bakarwals now face water and fodder scarcity, forcing them to move early to summer pastures. The rapid melting of snow means they arrive at pastures that don’t yet provide adequate grazing, while temperatures remain too low for optimal conditions, negatively impacting livestock populations.
Beyond climate challenges, the Bakarwals increasingly face displacement from their traditional grazing lands. As urbanization spreads and infrastructure projects expand, the tribe finds itself pushed out of ancestral pastures. Many alpine pastures have been closed by the forest department, making life extremely difficult for nomadic groups. Armed conflict in Kashmir has also left many pastures out of bounds, denying nomads access to northwestern highlands like Gurez and Kargil.
Government policies aimed at modernization and permanent settlement, while offering some advantages like better roads and healthcare, also threaten the very foundation of Bakarwal identity. Their dependence on migration and access to natural grazing grounds directly conflicts with developmental agendas that often overlook the sustainability needs of nomadic communities. Education poses another challenge-while the government established mobile schools to follow migrating families, many nomad families report these schools are not functioning properly, with teachers often not reporting to work and infrastructure like blackboards and chalk unavailable.
According to a 2020 economic survey, more than 42% of the Scheduled Tribe population in Jammu and Kashmir, of which the majority are Gujjars and Bakarwals, lived below the poverty line. The survey highlighted that these communities are highly vulnerable to climate change, with their livestock-based economy devastated by droughts, unseasonal snowfall, and other climate-related issues.
Despite these formidable challenges, the Bakarwal community continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Some families have adapted by diversifying their livestock or finding alternative livelihoods, though many younger members are breaking from tradition to seek other sources of income. The story of the Bakarwals is not just about survival in harsh mountain terrains-it’s a testament to a community’s determination to maintain its cultural identity and traditional practices despite powerful forces of change pressing in from all sides.
What do you think? Can modern development and environmental conservation coexist with the preservation of nomadic pastoral traditions like those of the Bakarwals? How might communities and policymakers better balance the needs of indigenous groups with broader development goals in mountain regions?
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakarwal
- https://www.arfjournals.com/image/catalog/Journals%20Papers/IJAR/2023/No%201%20(2023)/5_Upaid.pdf
- https://pastoralismjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13570-022-00264-2
- https://travelsetu.com/apps/blog/living-the-tribal-life-understanding-gujjar-bakarwal-tribes-of-srinagar
- https://www.newkerala.com/news/o/autumnal-migration-nomadic-bakarwals-begins-winter-cant-far-away-605
- https://www.jkpi.org/climate-change-a-threat-to-livelihood-of-gujjars-bakarwals/
- https://dialogue.earth/en/uncategorized/bakarwals-of-jammu-kashmir/
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