What is Parola? A traditional folk art using Mitti (Mud), Parola ( white clay),Goti ( mud plus cowdung) to embellish outer walls with bright motif Particulalry done on mud houses ( Kachi Kothi). This folk-art is created using Mitti (Mud) and Parola ( White Clay) on the outer side of mud-house, on the Danga ( Boundary wall) or Khutti (sitting benches made of mud). These give the mud house a beautiful look. After smearing walls of mud house these art creations are drawn over them with Parola. These are made from Mitti, Goti and Parola and are called Guddian (Dolls). These art creations are painted by females of the family with a Koochi (straw-brush ). First of all the mud house is given a hand plastering with wet clay mixed with husk of dry wheat-plant and cowdung. Then it is given a coating of Goti ( a plaster made of cow-dung and mud) when dry, Guddian are painted over this area using Parola (White clay). These art creations are not painted inside house. Only a thick...
Traditional Veterinary Wisdom of Jammu’s Gujjar Bakarwal Tribes Who are Gujjar Bakarwal? The Gujjar Bakarwal are a major nomadic tribe in Jammu & Kashmir, tending goats, sheep, buffalo all year round. They migrate seasonally summering in high altitude meadows, wintering in foothills while also maintaining thier rich cultural traditions. A Treasure Trove of Medicinal Plants A landmark ethnobotanical survey from Poonch documented 31 medicinal plant species used by shepherds to treat diverse livestock ailments like wounds, digestive issues, reproductive problems, fever, and more, of these 71 % were herbs and 35% were roots and 32% leaves. Herbal Remidies 1)Rumex nepalensis : Antiseptic and anti‑wound care, applied as paste or decoction to clean and heal cuts. 2)Allium cepa : Employed to prevent snakebites. 3)Smoke smudging ritual :Burned powders (e.g., Rumex, Juniperus, Morus) are smoked around livestock pens to ward off illness,old yet effective quarantine method. 4)Artemi...