Dhakar ढाकर in British Garhwal

    British Administration in Garhwal   -205

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -225

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1058

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

    Barring from Bhotia regions, Garhwal villagers used to reach to market places (Bhabar) for selling their produces and buying other needed items in winter. The tour of selling and buying was called ‘Dhakar (ढाकर) . Dhakar or ढाकर is a local word and Dr. Dabral assumed that the word   Dhakar or ढाकर originated from Dahkar or डहकर  that means tax by looting or snatching or getting deceived . Bazar was called Ghar and commonly called Chor Ghat or looting place. Another theory is that Dhakar ढाकर or might have originated from Dhokar or by carrying on back or head. Visiting Bhabar was called as Dhakar (ढाकर) and visiting Paithan (Bazar) too.

      Usually, villagers used to go for Dhakar (ढाकर) for buying Gur, salt, cotton cloth, iron plates for agriculture appliances.

  North Garhwal villagers had horses or sheep as carrier and they used to come with those transporting carriers. However, other parts of Garhwal did not have such animals. They used to go miles away to Bhabar and carried selling items on head or back. They used to take Sattu, roasted wheats or roasted Bhatt (soya beans), in whole tour. Dhakari (ढाकरी) used to keep a Chilam tobacco and Agyal (stone and iron for igniting cotton for tobacco burning). Dhakar (ढाकर) tour used to take minimum of three days.

 Males used to for Dhakar (ढाकर).  Lately, one or two men in each Patti started business of transportation of goods by horses and horsemen of Nazibabad started bringing gud or other items to Garhwal villages. Then Dhakar (ढाकर) custom stopped after independence.

References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-456

2- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts Vol.2

3-Pau,  Garhwal settlement

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 25/10/2017

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1059

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

 History of British Garhwal, History of Devalgarh Garhwal; History of Badhan Garhwal; History of Barasyun Garhwal; History of Chandpur Garhwal; History of Chaundkot Garhwal; History of  Gangasalan Garhwal;  History of Mallasalan Garhwal;  History ofTallasaln Garhwal; History of Dashauli Garhwal; History of Nagpur Garhwal; Sociity  in British Garhwal. History of British Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith in Chamoli Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith of Pauri Garhwal ,  Social and Culture History of Rudraprayag Garhwal