Traditional Jauljibi fair losing its’ sheen
Traditional Jauljibi fair losing its’ sheen
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Nov 14
The traditional commercial fair of Jauljibi, held at the Indo-Nepal border town of the same name was inaugurated by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, today.”We will have to preserve such fairs like Jauljibi as these promote cooperation with neighbouring nation, promote culture, trade and traditional craft of tribal community,” said Dhami.
“Over 400 shops of various items including traditional tribal crafts goods, woollen outfits and utensils have been put up in the two week long fair,” said Manjit Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Mela officer.
Started as a religious occasion from last decade of 19th century and given commercial nature by Pal landlords of Askot from mid second decade of 20th century, the Jauljibi fair used to be big annual market for traditional woollen crafts manufactured by tribal households of Darma, Vyans and Chaudans as well as Johar valleys of the district.”It also sold woollen goods and herbal products from Tibet as well as products from neighbouring Nepal, ” said Lalit Pant, a researcher of tribal economy of higher valleys of Pithoragarh district
“The fairs like Jauljibi, Gauchar and Bageshwar, held at the advent of winter, were once reflection of an entire economy of Uttarakhand region that depended on wool and its products,” said Dr Lalit Pant.
Jeewan Singh Rongkaki, president of ‘Bharat Cheen Vyapar Samiti’ at Dharchula, that was formed to preserve interests of Indian traders in Tibet after 1992 when the border trade with China restarted said that the Jauljibi fair has lost its’ lustre after border trade with Tibet was closed in 2019 following Corona pandemic.”Thousands of people used to visit Jauljibi to purchase goods manufactured of Tibetan wool, but after that trade closed that class of client is missing,” said Ronkali.
Shalu Datal, a resident of Darma valley said that after the residents of all three tribal valleys of the district, ceased to rear sheep, the volume of woollen goods has also decreased since past decade.”The rearing of sheep for wool has now become costly and requires more labour with less returns, that is why the women involved with the traditional wool craft are leaving the profession and shifting to other paying occupations,” said Datal.
According to Datal, the respective governments of Uttarakhand could not guide the craftsmen or women to produce goods with high craft value by providing them training of finishing, colour combination and goods of value.” The wool trade and craft related to it is gradually ending due to non understanding of problems of these craftsmen, who possess century old woollen crafts,” claimed Datal.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced five village level schemes for local villages that included, à motor road, a protection wall, a primary health center building, a mini stadium and a check dam project.
