About 90% of the population of Himachal Pradesh is Hindus. There main communities are Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. The tribal population of the state comprise of the Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis. The Gaddis are the traditional shepherds who migrate from the alpine pastures to the lower regions during the winters. The Kinnars are the inhabitants of the Kinnaur region and practiced polyandry and polygamy. The Gujjars are nomads who rear buffalo herds. The Pangawals of the Pangi region of the Chamba district are both low and high caste Hindus. The Lahaulis of Lahaul and Spiti region are mainly Buddhists.
Earlier Himachal had Monal as its state bird, Musk deer as the state animal and Rhododendrum arboretum as the state flower. They were changed at the 3rd State Wildlife board Meeting chaired by Shri Virbhadra Singh. New ones are as follows:
State Animal of Himachal:
Snow leopard is now the state animal of Himachal. It replaced the musk deer. One of the most endangered animals in the Himachal region is the snow leopard. It is found at very high altitudes that experience heavy snowfall. The number of snow leopards left in the state is very less now.
State Bird of Himachal:
Western Tragopan replaced the bird Monal for the state bird of Himachal. Its scientific name is Tragopan melanocephalus. Since, Monal is also the state bird of Uttrakhand and National bird of Nepal, there was a need to chose some new species of bird as state bird for Himachal. Western Tragopan was chosen keeping in view its beauty and decreasing number in Himachal. Wester Tragopan is popularly known as the ‘King of the birds’. It is also known as Jujurana.
State Flower of Himachal:
Pink Rhododendron is now the state flower of Himachal. It replaced Rhododendrum arboretum. It is a very beautiful flower with pink coloured petals. Its scientific name is Rhododendron campanulatum. According to the reports of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pink Rhododendron comes under the endangered species of flower while Rhododendrum arboretum does not.
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