RamonTietjen8 at 21:19, 6 May 2026

2026-05-06T21:19:08Z

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{{Short description|Socio-cultural community in India}}

{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}

{{Distinguish|Hatti}}{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Hatti
| native_name_lang = [[Sirmauri language|Sirmauri]]
| image = Sinhtoo Dance (2).jpg
| image_caption = Singhtu dance by Hatti people
| regions = [[Mahasu (region)|Mahasu region]], concentrated in its sub-regions of [[Jaunsar-Bawar]], [[Uttarakhand]] and [[Trans-Giri]] of [[Sirmaur district|Sirmaur]], [[Himachal Pradesh]]
| languages = [[Sirmauri language|Sirmauri]], [[Western Pahari|Pahari]], minority [[Hindi]]
| religions = [[Hinduism]]
| related_groups = [[Jaunsari people|Jaunsaris]]
}}

'''Hatti''' or '''Hattee''' are a [[Western Pahari|Pahari]]-speaking socio-cultural community found in [[Himachal Pradesh]] and [[Uttarakhand]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pradesh (India) |first=Himachal |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Administration_Report_of_the_Himachal_Pr/rUCW8fD6IUcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=hatti+people+himachal&dq=hatti+people+himachal&printsec=frontcover |title=Administration Report of the Himachal Pradesh Administration |date=1964 |publisher=Director of Public Relations and Tourism |language=en}}</ref> They are an isolated community concentrated particularly in [[Trans-Giri]] region in [[Sirmaur district|Sirmaur]], Himachal Pradesh and adjacent region of [[Jaunsar-Bawar]] in Uttrakhand. They are famous for their distinct market places (known as ''Hatts'') and known for [[Fraternal Polyandry|faternal polyandry]] practice.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-25 |title=One bride, two grooms: The story of Himachal’s Hattis and the tradition of polyandry |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/one-bride-two-grooms-himachal-hatti-tradition-polyandry-10149630/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

They are currently recognized as [[Schedule Tribe]] community in Himachal Pradesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=4 August 2023 |title=THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES) ORDER (FOURTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 2022 |url=https://www.legislative.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/06/a6d8a2f1e3c775b02163b3db89ee1471.pdf |website=[[India.gov.in]] |publisher=Controller of Publisher, India |place=Delhi |pages=23}}</ref>

== Overview ==

=== Etymology ===
The isolated people of Trans-Giri region are famous for their traditional markets setup in the distinct styles known as ''Hatts'' from which the community is called to the ''Hattis'' (or ''Hattee''), deriving from the word ''Hatt.''

=== Geographic distribution ===
The Hattis are sub-divided into two groups: ''Giri Paar'' ''Hattis'' and ''Jaunsar Hattis'', of whom the 'Giri Paars' inhabitates the region of Trans-Giri (known as Giri Paar in [[Western Pahari]]) and 'Jaunsar Hatti' in region of Jaunsar-Bawar. They use to set up their markets (or Hatt) in their regions, often adjacent places of [[Dehradun district|Dehradun]], [[Shimla district|Shimla]] and [[Solan district|Solan]] leading to small population being settled in these places.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thakur |first=Ratika |last2=Bharadwaj |first2=Arun |last3=Sinha |first3=Anil Kishore |date=12 February 2024 |title=From a Community to a ‘Scheduled Tribe’: A Ethnographic Study of the Hatti |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2277436X241292690 |journal=Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India |volume=74 |issue=1 |doi=10.1177/2277436X241292690|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Culture ==
They have inhabited the regions of Trans-Giri and have remained insolated due to the geographical barriers of high mountain ranges. The Hatts setup by them for trade is unique part of their culture and due to dependence on agriculture and animal husbandry, their trade is mostly related to plants and animal products. They are known for their tribal lifestyle, similar to the culture of the [[Jaunsaris]] and have prominence of traditional governing system called ''Khumbli'' (community councils) with strong customary laws on marriage, property and dispute.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Verma |first=Sarita |last2=Sharma |first2=Anurag |date=2020-06-01 |title=Folk customs and traditions prevalent in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh: a case study |url=https://jtfp.jntbgri.res.in/index.php/jtfp/article/view/132 |journal=Journal of Traditional and Folk Practices |language=en |doi=10.25173/jtfp.132 |issn=2278-5906|doi-access=free }}</ref> They have many practices distinct from the neighbouring communities and unique form of [[Mask|mask dance]] called as Sinhtoo or Singhtu, where they dance portraying them as [[Cultural depictions of lions|Lions]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=In a first, ancient folk dance ‘Sinhtoo’ to be performed at R-Day parade in Delhi |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/ancient-folk-dance-sinhtoo-republic-day-parade-delhi-9796808/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> They also follows practice of [[Polyandry in India|polyandry]], though which is rare called "Jodidara".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parmar |first=Y S |author-link=Yashwant Singh Parmar |title=Polyandry in Himalayas |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |year=1975}}</ref>

Hattis have been [[Cultural Hindus|culturally Hindus]] and worship [[Mahasu Devta Temple|Mahasu Devta]], similar to other communities of [[Mahasu (region)|Mahasu region]]. During the time of [[Sirmur State]], they were introduced with traditional Hinduism and developed reverence of [[Kuldevi|kuldevis]] and with time the priest caste emerged in the community called ''[[Bhat]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kapoor |first=R B |title=Gazetteer of the Sirmur State 1934 |publisher=B R Publishing Company |year=2012 |pages=32}}</ref> They have caste system among them with upper castes ([[Bhat|Bhatts]] and [[Khasas]]) and lower castes (Badhoi).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Ashutosh |date=2023-08-06 |title=Himachal’s Hatti community thanks PM Modi as tribal status finally comes through |url=https://www.indianarrative.com/india-news/himachals-hatti-community-thanks-pm-modi-as-tribal-status-finally-comes-through/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=India Narrative |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Scheduled Tribe status ==
Hattis from long have argued that they were similar to the [[Jaunsaris]] of Uttarakhand with similar culture and practices, and asked the [[Government of India|Government]] to include them in the [[List of Scheduled Tribes in Uttarakhand|Scheduled Tribe category similar to Jaunsaris in Uttrakhand]] and [[List of Scheduled Tribes in Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Topno |first=S |title=Tribal Ethnography Customary Law and Change |last2=Ghatak |first2=N |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=1993 |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=K S |pages=355-372 |chapter=The Jaunsaris of Uttar Pradesh}}</ref> They have insisted the government that their distinct culture and lifestyle qualifies the criteria of them being a Tribe, alongside they inhabit the remote areas of the Trans-Giri (Mahasu region) and Jaunsar-Bawar and their similar comunities in the Jaunsar-Bawar region have been granted as [[Scheduled Tribe]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pradesh (India) |first=Himachal |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Administration_Report_of_the_Himachal_Pr/rUCW8fD6IUcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=hatti+people+himachal&dq=hatti+people+himachal&printsec=frontcover |title=Administration Report of the Himachal Pradesh Administration |date=1964 |publisher=Director of Public Relations and Tourism |language=en}}</ref> Though, their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list was met by opposition from other tribal communities due to their high landholding and better lifestyle and socio-economic conditions. The opposition was supported by the [[Schedule Caste|Scheduled castes community]] of Trans-Giri region arguing to grant of ST status to the [[Upper caste|upper castes]] within the community, which would provide them immunity from [[Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989|atrocity laws]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fresh hope for Hattis as HC sets final hearing on ST status |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/fresh-hope-for-hattis-as-hc-sets-final-hearing-on-st-status/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, the Government of India recognized the "''Hattee in Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur district''" as Scheduled Tribes through ''The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fouth Amendment) Act, 2022'' after approval from [[Rajya Sabha]].<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Himachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Polyandry]]

Hattee people - Revision history

RamonTietjen8 at 21:19, 6 May 2026