The majesty of the snow-peaks, the harshness of the long winter months and Nature s generosity during the short spring and summer seasons have, perhaps, given the people of the region a strange blend of humility, sensitivity and hardiness to survive against great natural odds. There is a certain purity of the secular Vedic culture still alive, and this can be gleaned from the fact that in HP, orthodox Hindu communities abhor social discrimination, cherish unfettered living, and show exceptional tolerance to Muslim, Buddhist and Christian ideologies.
Men wear double-breasted woollen gowns in which an astonishing number of articles can be stored.
The women grease their hair with butter and style it in numerous thin plaits, made longer by weaving yak s hair into them. The main livelihood is from sheep rearing and wool trade. When the eldest son of a family dies, the younger brother is free to marry his brother s widow and adopt his brother s children, even if he is already married. All these liberal customs were threatening a population explosion in the valley, so now one son of each family is asked to remain celibate. The tiny village of Malana, in Kullu valley ahead of the Chandra Khanni Pass, also supports polygamy and polyandry.