Paper short abstract:

the alcoholic beverages have a very significant role in occasions, social gatherings, fair and festivals and rituals of kinnura tribe of Himachal Pradesh India. Using anthropology in these context reveals significant meaning and heritage value of indigenous beverages of the tribe.

Paper long abstract:

Tribes have indigenous alcoholic beverages and employ it in certain social and ritual context. Use of alcoholic beverages itself varies considerably from culture to culture. Using anthropology in these context reveals significant meaning and heritage value of the tribe. The alcoholic beverages are socially accepted and sectioned in Kinnura tribe of Himachal Pradesh. Present study document various beverages of the valley, procedure of making an alcoholic beverage, and its significant role in ritual practices, social bonding, fair and festivals and as a mode of adaptation to cold stress. A study was conducted in two villages of Sangla valley of Kinnuar district of Himachal Pradesh in September 2012. Qualitative Study was conducted with in-depth interview method and 26 individuals were interviewed with research scheduled. The research area was revisited in October 2014 and august 2015, and 15 individuals were interviewed with the same research schedule to check the change in trends among indigenous beverages. The method of preparation of indigenous alcoholic beverages are same but the material used for the procedure was changed with time. The alcoholic beverages are very important part of various occasions, social gatherings, fair and festivals and rituals. The beverages have medicinal value and keep them warm in cold climate.