Socio–magico–religious plants used by the semi nomadic Gaddi and Sippi tribes in Doda district of Union Territory of J&K, India.

Abstract

Background: Plants play an important role not only in fulfilling certain basic needs of human beings but have also influenced their cultural and religious life since time immemorial. Most of the socio–magico–religious plants (SMRPs) have medicinal values and some of them are associated with the community based conservation as well. Keeping in view the significant research gap, the present study was conducted to document the plants used in socio–magico–religious practices by the Gaddi and Sippi tribes living in Doda district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (UT OF J&K).

Methods: Ethnobotanical data were collected from 90 randomly selected informants through interviews conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. The uses of each plant species, as reported by the informants, were recorded as use-reports (UR). These UR data were then used to calculate the Cultural importance value (CI) and the Informant Consensus Factor (Fic).

Results: A total of 60 SMRPs belonging to 53 genera and 27 families were documented in the present study. The sacred and religious rites (SRR) was the most represented use category, comprising 40 plant species. Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., with CI value 2.2, was the most significant SMRP for the Gaddi and Sippi communities. Seventy five percent of the reported SMRPs were also used as source of ethnomedicines.

Conclusion: A considerable diversity of indigenous plant species is intricately linked to the cultural and religious practices of the Gaddi and Sippi tribes. Many Socio-magico-religious plants possess medicinal values and some of the Socio-magico-religious practices are associated with community based conservation of local plants.  Therefore, conservation of Socio-magico-religious practices of the tribals is strongly recommended.

Keywords: Ethnomedicinal; exorcism; religious rites; sacred grooves; shamanisim.