Kinner or Kannaura
Inhabitants of Kinnaur District
Terminology & Nomenclature
- Common Names: Kinnaura, Kinara, Kanawara, Kannaura (Modern), Kinnaurese, or Kimpurshas.
- Kimpurushas (Sanskrit): Derived from Kim (What kind of) + Purshas (Human beings) → “What kind of human beings?”
- Regional Names:
- Khuna: Used by Tibetans (means ‘Mountain’ in some Dravidian languages).
- Kurpa / Khas / Khasia: Additional regional identifiers.
- Maon: Name for Kinnaur used in Leh.
- Mone of Maon: Name used for the Bushahr state.
Origins, Mythology & Legends
| Source | Description / Belief |
|---|---|
| Amarkosa | Mentions Kinners alongside Gandharvas, Yakshas, Apsaras, Vidyadhavas, Sidhas, Guhayakas, Bhutasm, Pishachas, and Rakshasas. |
| Bhagwat Purana | Origin from the shadow of Lord Brahma. |
| Bhavricopnishad | Devi created Kinners with Brahma, Vishnu, Maruta, Rudra, Gandharwa, and Apsara. |
| Mahabharata | Groups Kinners with the Gandharwas. |
| Matasya Purana | Kinship with the Kiratas & Yakshas. |
| Vayu Purana | Inhabitants of the Mahand Mountains. |
| Other Legends | Kinners sprung from the toe of Brahma alongside the Yakshas. |
Mythological Status: A distinct race of demigods existing in the realm between humans and gods. Depicted as:
- Half-man and Half-bird (Avian-humanoid).
- Human body with horse’s head (Equine-humanoid).
Historical Records & Geography
- Mahabharata Period: The five Pandavas passed a significant part of their 12-year exile in Kinnaur.
- Frescoes of Ajanta: Paintings carry depictions of Kiratas, Kinners, and Guhayakas.
- Kalidasa: Mentions Kinners in his literary works.
- Ancient Records: Aboriginal inhabitants pushed into inaccessible mountains by Khas & Aryan invaders.
- Vedas: No mention of Kinners and Aryans together. Likely came into contact in post-Vedic literature.
- Geography:
- Topography: Mountainous, Dense Forests.
- Climate: Cold, Heavy snowfall, Low rainfall.
- Regional Tracts: Located between Kashmir and Nepal (Western Himalayas). Mentioned in Vimanvathu by Sutpitak (2nd or 3rd Century BCE).
- Kimpurushwarsha: An ancient Himalayan kingdom located in high West Himalayas of Kailash mountain and Lake Mansarovar.
Religious & Legal Status
Religious Classification
Hinduism: Included in Brahmanical classification of categories.
Jainism: One of the category of neun dev yoni.
Buddhism: Listed as one of the distinct races.
Legal Status
Kinnauras: Belong to Scheduled Tribe.
Other groups: Scheduled Castes like Chamang (Lohar), Domang (Koli), Badhi, and Nagalu live in the same area.
Social Hierarchy & Occupation
Main Categories: 1. Khasia (Rajputs/Kanet) | 2. Beru (Domang & Chamang)
Ethnic Groups & Their Occupations:
- Rajputs/Kanet/Khasia: Dominant group.
- Koli: Weavers, artisans, leather workers, and ploughmen (Hali).
- Lohar: Iron & Silversmiths.
- Badhi/Ores: Carpenters and Masons.
- Nagalu: Basket Makers.
- Jad or Zad: Ethnic Rajput in Pooh subdivision; practice Buddhism.
Khasia Subdivisions (Three Khels/Status Groups):
Orang, Morang/Maorang, and Waza.
- Endogamous groups based on hierarchical positions.
- Found only in Hinduism dominated areas.
- Khels Subdivision: Divided into Khandans (lineages) and Sub-Khandans.
- Original: Can participate directly in social, economic, political, and religious functions.
- Immigrants: Migrated as wives or as Makpa (son-in-law); cannot participate in the functions mentioned above.
Social Relations & Restrictions
Kanet & Koli: Relation is traditionally that of Landlord and Tenant.
Savarna (Higher Castes): Do not allow other castes to enter the sanctum sanctorum of temple premises.
Marriage: Intercommunity marriages are strictly not allowed.
Commensality Restrictions (Food & Drink)
| Community | Acceptance Rules |
|---|---|
| Rajputs / Kanet | Accept food/drink from own community only; accept tobacco, bidi, cigarettes, and fruits from Badhi, Lohar, and Koli. |
| Badhi | Accept food/drinks from Kanet and Lohar; accept only dry items from Koli. |
| Lohar | Accept from Rajput and Badhi; accept only dry items from Koli. |
| Koli | Accept food from all groups except the Nagalu. |
| Nagalu | Accept everything from all other castes. |
Ceremonial Friendships & Kinship
- 🤝 Jokheya: Ceremonial friendship between a man and a woman.
- 🤝 Konech: Ceremonial friendship between two women.
- 🌸 Jokheya un / Konech un: Ceremonies established by exchanging garlands of fruits, food, and home-brewed wine on an auspicious day.
- 👬 Brotherhood / Sisterhood:
- Kokheya or Dharambhai (for men).
- Rinkchye or Dharmabahin (for women).
- Rule: Established within same ethnic/status group, but never within the same Khandan.
Marriage System & Rules
- Khel: Nowadays follows Khel Endogamy (e.g., Orang & Morang can marry). Earlier, Orang, Morang, and Waza were strictly endogamous.
- Khandans: Strictly Exogamous; marriage within the same Khandan is prohibited.
- Sub-Khandans: Marriage between members of two sub-khandans is allowed; superior/inferior ones prefer to marry within their own status.
- Prohibited Degrees: No marriage within 7 generations of father’s Khandan and 3 generations of mother’s Khandan.
- Age of Marriage: 16–30 years for boys; 15–25 years for girls.
- Note: Child marriage was prevalent a few decades back.
Forms of Marriage
- Janekhang / Janetang: Common Arranged Marriage.
- Damchalshish / Damtangshish / Jushish / Benang Hacchis: Love Marriage.
- Darosh / Dubur / Nyamsha Dapang / Nyamsha Lemo / Ashish / Huchis: Marriage by Forceful or Consented Capture.
- Har: Enticing away someone’s wife.
Process of Janekang (Arranged Marriage)
Most common, legal, and widely practiced form.
- Selection: In orthodox families, three girls are selected by the groom’s father; the village deity (Devta) selects one. In less orthodox families, a specific girl is simply selected.
- Majomi (Middlemen): Two middlemen selected to approach the bride’s parents. Maternal Uncle often plays this role.
- The Visit: Majomi visits with some cash and a bottle of liquor capped with butter (Butter symbolizes prosperity/happiness).
- Barni: A gold ornament presented to the girl’s side after acceptance.
- Ghanti: Local liquor offered to the Majomi.
- Fixing Dates: A Lama or Grokch fixes the marriage date.
- Jinsi Ritual: Performed if marriage is postponed; Majomi sends an ornament to the bride’s house to dispel evil.
- Marriage Size: There is no limit on the size of the marriage.
- Nyetang Merang: A variation for poor families; only two people form the marriage party. Can perform full Janekang later if they become prosperous.
Damchalshish (Love Marriage)
Means “to have relations” in the local language.
- Starts with an affair, leading the couple to elope to an unknown place.
- The boy eventually brings the girl to his house to seek parental consent for negotiations.
- If no other option exists, boy’s parents send Majomi with Ghanti (liquor/butter) and “Izzat money” for the girl’s maternal uncle/relatives.
- Disagreement: If girl’s parents disagree, presents are returned, but the community may still accept them as husband and wife. Parents occasionally bring daughters back.
- Agreement: If parents agree, it follows the Nyotang marriage style. The actual ceremony might be delayed 7–8 years, sometimes after the couple has children.
- Elopement Rule: During elopement, the girl stays with the husband but returns to her parents a few days before the formal ceremony.
Kinner or Kannaura
Cultural, Social, and Mythological Study of Kinnaur District
🌍 Terminology & Nomenclature
- 🔖 Common Names: Kinnaura, Kinara, Kanawara, Kannaura (Modern), Kinnaurese, or Kimpurshas.
- 📜 Kimpurushas (Sanskrit): Derived from Kim (What kind of) + Purshas (Human beings) → “What kind of human beings?”
- 📍 Regional Names:
- Khuna: Used by Tibetans (means ‘Mountain’ in some Dravidian languages).
- Kurpa / Khas / Khasia: Additional regional identifiers.
- Maon: Name for Kinnaur used in Leh.
- Mone of Maon: Name used for the Bushahr state.
🏺 Origins, Mythology & Legends
✨ Mythological Status:
A distinct race of demigods existing in the realm between humans and gods. Depicted as:
- Half-man and Half-bird (Avian-humanoid).
- Human body with horse’s head (Equine-humanoid).
🏔️ Historical Records & Geography
- ⚔️ Mahabharata Period: The five Pandavas passed a significant part of their 12-year exile in Kinnaur.
- 🎨 Frescoes of Ajanta: Paintings carry depictions of Kiratas, Kinners, and Guhayakas.
- 🖋️ Kalidasa: Mentions Kinners in his classical literary works.
- 🛡️ Ancient Records: Aboriginal inhabitants pushed into inaccessible mountains by Khas & Aryan invaders.
- 📖 Vedas: No mention of Kinners and Aryans together. Likely came into contact in post-Vedic literature.
- 📖 Regional Tract: Between Kashmir and Nepal in Western Himalayas mentioned in the book Vimavathu by Sutpitak (2nd or 3rd BC).
- 📖 Kimpurushwarsha: An ancient Himalayan Kingdom near Mt. Kailash & Lake Mansarovar.
- 🗺️ Geography & Climate:
- Topography: Mountainous, Dense Forests.
- Climate: Cold, Heavy snowfall, Low rainfall.
⚖️ Religious & Legal Status
☸️ Religious Classification
Hinduism: Brahmanical classification of categories.
Jainism: Category of neun dev yoni.
Buddhism: Listed as a distinct race.
📜 Legal Status
Kinnauras: Classified as Scheduled Tribe.
Local SC Groups: Chamang (Lohar), Domang (Koli), Badhi, and Nagalu.
👥 Social Hierarchy & Occupation
Main Categories: 1. Khasia (Rajputs/Kanet) | 2. Beru
🛠️ Ethnic Groups & Occupations:
🔹 Rajputs/Kanet/Khasia: Dominant group.
🔹 Koli: Weavers, artisans, leather workers.
🔹 Lohar: Iron & Silversmiths.
🔹 Badhi/Ores: Carpenters and Masons.
🔹 Nagalu: Basket Makers.
🔹 Jad or Zad: Buddhist Rajputs (Pooh).
👑 Khasia Subdivisions: Divided into three Khels:
Subdivided into Khandans or lineages:
Original Khandans: Full participation in all social/religious functions.
Immigrant Khandans: (Migrated as wives or Makpa/sons-in-law) Restricted from functions.
👑 Beru Subdivisions: Divided into three Khels:
🔹 Orang
🔹 Morang/Maorang
🔹 Waza
- Hierarchical Endogamous groups.
- Found only in Hindu dominated areas.
🛠️ Khels subdivison :
🔹 Domang Includes Lohar and Badhia/Ores.
🔹 Chamang Includes Nagalu.
🍽️ Commensality Restrictions (Food & Drink)
Ceremonial Friendships & Kinship
- 🤝 Jokheya: Ceremonial friendship between a man and a woman.
- 🤝 Konech: Ceremonial friendship between two women.
- 🌸 Jokheya un / Konech un: Ceremonies established by exchanging garlands of fruits, food, and home-brewed wine on an auspicious day.
- 👬 Brotherhood / Sisterhood:
- Kokheya or Dharambhai (for men).
- Rinkchye or Dharmabahin (for women).
- Rule: Established within same ethnic/status group, but never within the same Khandan.
Marriage System & Rules
- Khel: Nowadays follows Khel Endogamy (e.g., Orang & Morang can marry). Earlier, Orang, Morang, and Waza were strictly endogamous.
- Khandans: Strictly Exogamous; marriage within the same Khandan is prohibited.
- Sub-Khandans: Marriage between members of two sub-khandans is allowed; superior/inferior ones prefer to marry within their own status.
- Prohibited Degrees: No marriage within 7 generations of father’s Khandan and 3 generations of mother’s Khandan.
- Age of Marriage: 16–30 years for boys; 15–25 years for girls.
- Note: Child marriage was prevalent a few decades back.
Forms of Marriage
- Janekhang / Janetang: Common Arranged Marriage.
- Damchalshish / Damtangshish / Jushish / Benang Hacchis: Love Marriage (Elopement).
- Darosh / Dubur / Nyamsha Dapang / Nyamsha Lemo / Ashish / Huchis: Marriage by Capture (Forceful/Consented).
- Har: Enticing away someone’s wife.
🔄 Marriage Processes
1. Janekang (Arranged)
🔹 Majomi (Middlemen): Approach bride’s parents with liquor capped with butter (prosperity symbol).
🔹 Barni: Gold ornament presented upon acceptance.
🔹 Jinsi: Ritual to dispel evil influences if marriage is postponed.
🔹 Nyetang Merang: Simplified version for poor families.
2. Damchalshish (Love/Elopement)
🔸 Process: Couple elopes → Boy returns for parental consent → Negotiation with girl’s parents.
🔸 Izzat Money: Offered to girl’s maternal uncle if negotiation is needed.
🔸 Status: If parents agree, ceremony may be delayed 7–8 years (often after children are born).
🚫 Social Restrictions Summary
Relations
Kanet & Koli = Landlord/Tenant
Kanet & Koli = Landlord/Tenant
Temples
Lower castes barred from Sanctum
Lower castes barred from Sanctum
Marriage
No Intercommunity marriage
No Intercommunity marriage