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The language, culture, and populations
of Lahul and Spiti are closely related. Generally the Lahulis are of
Tibetan and Indo-Aryan descent, while the Spiti Bhotia are more
similar to the Tibetans, owing to their close proximity to Tibet.
Fairer skin and hazel-colored eyes are commonly seen among the
Lahulis.
The languages of both the Lahuli and Spiti Bhotia belong to the
Tibeto-Burman family. They are very similar to the Ladakhi and
Tibetans culturally, as they had been placed under the rule of the
Guge and Ladakh kingdoms at occasional intervals.
Among the Lahulis, the family acts as the basic unit of kinship. The
extended family system is common, evolved from the polyandric system
of the past. The family is headed by a senior male member, known as
the Yunda, while his wife, known as the Yundamo, attains authority
by being the oldest member in the generation. The clan system, also
known as Rhus, plays another major role in the Lahula society.
The Spiti Bhotia community has an inheritance system that is
otherwise unique to the Tibetans. Upon the death of both parents,
only the eldest son will inherit the family property, while the
eldest daughter inherits the mother's jewellery, and the younger
siblings inherit nothing. Men usually fall back on the social
security system of the Trans-Himalayan Gompas.
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