Changpa Tribe

Changpa tribal community, who are mainly settled in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir, is one of the Scheduled tribes in the whole of the Indian subcontinent. The Changpa tribes prefer to adapt to nomadic life. In the Jammu and Kashmir state , the major concentration of this Changpa tribal community are found several places like Changthang plateau in Ladakh ranges.

The main occupation of the Changpa tribal community is animal husbandry. Just like many other tribal communities, this Changpa tribal community too has engaged themselves in cultivation. The Changpa tribes mostly cultivate barley. There are quite a handful of Changpa tribes who also are carrying small trading activities as well. Some of these Changpa tribes also gather salt from the northern shores of the Tsokar Lake in Rupshu region and also sell it in the Ladakh area. According to anthropologists, these Changpa tribes also are seen rearing cattle and flocks of pashmina goats on the hills slopes.

No culture of any of the tribal communities of India is regarded to be ennobled without treasure of its culture and traditional exuberances. In this regard, the status of the Changpa tribes is quite high. It has been rightly been seen in several of its aspects like housing, dance, music, festivals etc. This tribal community from Jammu & Kashmir prefers to reside in beautiful tents that are nicely prepared from the hair of yaks and goats. Like many of the tribal communities, this Changpa tribal community too is widely oriented towards religion and several of the spiritual beliefs and customs.

However, these Changpa tribes still retained their heritage of observing local religious rites and customs. Also in the Changpa tribal society, there is no dearth of local deities and goddesses. There are many members of this Changpa tribal community who have been converted to other religion like Buddhism. According to some of the anthropologists, there are few Muslims also who celebrate festival of Ramzan and Eid in lots of reverence. Apart from Jammu and Kashmir valley, many of this Changpa tribal community also are found in other places of India.