Ethnographic Description of Bride Price Practice (Xhrap) and Social Organization in Chilas

Abstract

Traditional customary practices lead towards socialization of the community. Cultural traits play an important role for unique characterization of communities. The present study is aimed to explore the ethnographic description of Xhrap. The study is imparted in Samigal and Khanbari, which is a Tehsil Darail stationed at the footprints of Diamer District. Certain research objectives were formulization to find out social, cultural, religious and economic significance of Xhrap. The purpose of the research was to explore the significance of Xhrap for connectivity, interaction and solidarity among different castes of same valley. This is the central force (cultural trait) which is common and significantly practiced to share the economic and labour burden within and outside particular castes. For the study, overall, 50 in-depth interviews were conducted from Yashkun, Sheen, Kamin and Doom. Participant observation tool was extensively utilized to check, re check the valued information through in-depth interviews to find out teaching and practice of Xhrap. The study concluded that this is miscommunicated term which has various important aspects of socio-economic lives of natives. The Xhrap value is equal to the labour of female done in household and farm work. The study concluded that in every caste the concept of Xhrap is different. Yashkun and Sheen are high status castes whereas Kamin and Doom has low economic and social status, a difference of Xhrap conceptualization documented that former considered it the matter of prestige and the later as economic burden sharing.