Culture and Cultural Relevance of Changpa Nomads

ABSTRACT The investigation was aimed at studying the culture and cultural relevance of changpa nomads. The study was conducted in Changthang region of Nyoma block of Leh district of J&K state. 100% of the changpa nomad's respondents celebrate losar festival and Guston. The losar festival marks the beginning of New Year in ladakh and is considered to be the most important festival of the region. Respondents from all the villages celebrate Losar (New Year), Dalia Lama's birthday with feast and prayer in gompas (monasteries) people enjoyed a good stage fight between the good and the evil. Every year the date and the location of the festival, losar change. The result also revealed that 13.3 % of respondents believed in polyandry form of marriage because they believe that property will not be divided and will remain in the same family. Polyandry was prevalent only in the age of 35 - 50 years of respondents which clearly indicate that earlier generation believed in polyandry whereas the present generations do not believe in polyandry system. Regarding number of husbands 13.3% of respondents had two husbands and all husbands were brothers in relation.