Role of Plants Used in Religious and Cultural System by Local Inhabitants of Sacred Forests of district Pithoragarh, Kumaun Himalaya

ABSTRACT

Sacred natural sites are part of a broader set of cultural values that different social groups, traditions, beliefs or value systems attach to places and which ‘fulfil humankind’s need to understand, and connect in meaningful ways, to the environment of its origin and to nature’. The study was conducted in 6 sacred forests located in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state, India. The approximate area of the six sacred forests ranges from 120 -195 ha and are located at an elevation range of 1497-2603 m above sea level. Survey was done during year 2015. In order to achieve authentic information, an extensive dialogue with the inhabitants of Villages around sacred forests conducted using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools. The present study compiles 17 religious plant species belonging to 14 families (13 Angiosperms and 1 Gymnosperms) used by local inhabitants round sacred forests, Pithoragarh. Within the documented species tree(53%) cover  the maximum number of species followed by shrubs(29%) and Herbs (18%). present studies shows percentage of plant part used fruit (28%), leaf(28%), stem(19%),seed(5%),whole plant (5%), Rhizome(5%),Flower (5%) and Inflorescence (5%) by local peoples.

Keywords: Sacred Forests, Sacred plants, Kumaun Himalaya, Religious belief.

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