Customary Laws and Practices for the Conservation of Bugyals
(With reference to Manpai Bugyal)

29 March 2025

Introduction

In the high Himalayan regions of Uttarakhand, once the tree line ends, vast velvet-like grasslands spread out, known locally as “bugyals.” From June to September, these grasslands are used for sheep grazing, collecting medicinal herbs, harvesting flowers, and holding festivities dedicated to the local deity Nanda. For the rest of the year, the area remains covered in snow most of the time, and only scant vegetation is found.

Within the Kedarnath Wildlife Division, there are many such bugyals that have sustained the local population for centuries. Among them, Manpai Bugyal is the largest. Nearly 20 villages in Chamoli District depend directly on Manpai Bugyal for various purposes.

For example, the villages of Dumak, Syun, Bemru, Math, Ludawn, and others use this bugyal for sheep grazing, collecting medicinal herbs, gathering Brahma Kamal flowers, and observing the local deity Nanda’s festivities. In the year 2024, 233 people from these villages visited the bugyal for different purposes, spending a total of 3,036 human-days there. Additionally, around 3,200 sheep relied on Manpai Bugyal as a summer grazing site.

Over the past two or three decades, the increase in plastic waste in and around Manpai Bugyal and other high-altitude Himalayan meadows has adversely affected the vegetation, water sources, and production of medicinal and other plants. This plastic waste mainly comes from people who visit the bugyal and bring it along.

Plastic litter and other human interventions are taking a toll on these high-altitude meadows. Conserving them is essential not only for the environment but also for local livelihoods and religious or cultural faith. Traditionally, local communities have formulated customs and practices to protect the bugyals, but these are gradually fading. Now that these meadows are threatened, there is a need to revive those Customary Laws. This booklet compiles several such traditional practices observed in Manpai Bugyal, which, if followed, can help mitigate current threats.

Customary Laws and Practices in Manpai Bugyal

1. Rules and Practices for Visiting the Bugyal

1.1 The Practice of Maintaining Silence
Manpai Bugyal is home to a variety of wildlife and bird species, including many rare ones. For instance, this entire area is a wildlife sanctuary declared primarily for the conservation of the musk deer. These creatures live in a habitat far removed from noise. Traditionally, people visiting the bugyal have been mindful of maintaining silence to avoid disturbing the wildlife. Even today, visitors are discouraged from bringing loud devices, and they also avoid wearing very bright or flashy clothing because it can disturb wild animals.

1.2 Rules Regarding Footwear
The grass in bugyals is extremely delicate and can be damaged by any hard or sharp object. During the Nanda Jaat pilgrimage (a significant local religious journey), devotees have always walked barefoot in these meadows. This tradition is associated with the sacredness of the bugyals. Today, if people cannot walk completely barefoot, they are at least encouraged to wear soft-soled footwear so the delicate vegetation is not harmed.

2. Rules and Practices Related to Cleanliness

2.1 ‘Reni’ Practice
In the bugyals, a shepherd’s hut is considered akin to a temple. Shepherds never throw their leftover food or garbage in the open. They make every effort to ensure that any leftover food is eaten by other animals, such as the guard dogs that accompany them. This practice is observed to maintain the cleanliness and sanctity of the bugyal. Nowadays, tourists or others camping in the bugyal are also encouraged to follow this “Reni” practice within their tents or camps.

2.2 Rules of Cleanliness
Traditionally, bugyals are regarded as sacred, so specific rules have been established to maintain their cleanliness. For instance, defecation and waste disposal have always involved digging a pit to bury such waste. While this practice works well for biodegradable waste, plastic and other non-biodegradable waste are now accumulating in large quantities. Therefore, visitors must carry back all their non-biodegradable waste instead of leaving it behind.

3. Rules and Practices for Sheep Grazing

3.1 ‘Midak’ Practice
Shepherds have always played a significant role in the conservation of bugyals. During their temporary stays, they make sure their flock of sheep moves through every part of the bugyal. The reasoning behind this practice is that, as sheep graze and roam, the seeds of various plants are effectively dispersed onto the ground, aiding timely regeneration. It has been observed that areas not frequented by sheep end up with only a single type of grass or plant. Thus, the “Midak” practice is essential for preserving the meadow’s biodiversity.

3.2 Rules for Sheep Grazing
During their stay in the bugyal with their flocks, shepherds ensure that no single part of the bugyal is overgrazed. To achieve this, they change their camping spot every week or ten days, so that grazing shifts to a fresh area. This rule prevents the overexploitation of the bugyal’s vegetation.

4. Rules and Practices Concerning the Brahma Kamal and Musk Deer

4.1 Rules for Plucking the Brahma Kamal
Brahma Kamal is the state flower of Uttarakhand and is a rare species. There have long been rules in place for its protection—most importantly, that one must not pluck this flower before the eighth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Bhadon (August–September). By that time, the seeds have ripened and begun to disperse. As large quantities of Brahma Kamal flowers are often collected for religious events, this traditional rule is essential for conserving the species.

4.2 ‘Brahma Kamal’ Orchards
To protect the Brahma Kamal, its natural growth zones are referred to by the names of various local deities’ orchards. For example, an orchard known as ‘Phulana’ is dedicated to the local deity Wazeer of Dumak, while another orchard, ‘Kaila Badi,’ is dedicated to the local deity Latu of Bemru. These particular “flower orchards” are reserved for collecting flowers only during the designated times of worship for those specific deities. Even shepherds are prohibited from grazing their sheep in these orchards to ensure their preservation.

4.3 Rules Related to the Musk Deer
The musk deer is the pride of Manpai Bugyal, but worldwide, it has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to illegal poaching. People in this region have always been traditionally conscious of conserving the musk deer. A long-held belief states that if anyone hunts a musk deer, their entire lineage will be wiped out. Such a belief has played an important role in deterring poaching and helping protect this species.

5. Rules and Practices for Collecting Medicinal Herbs

5.1 The Rule Regarding ‘Laal Jadi’ (Red Herb)
In Manpai Bugyal, there is a red herb known as “Laal Jadi,” which has traditionally been used to treat cuts and wounds due to its medicinal properties. However, there is a rule that this herb should only be dug up if it is needed to treat an actual injury—whether human or livestock. The belief is that if it is dug up without such a need, the person who harvests it may suffer an injury in return. This rule prevents the commercial exploitation of this rare herb.

5.2 Rules for Digging Medicinal Herbs
Shepherds are usually the first to arrive in the bugyals and tend to stay there for an extended period; thus, they bear a special responsibility for conserving bugyal resources. By tradition, no herbs are to be dug up before the Nanda Jaat (a major local festival). Even if someone must harvest an herb for treatment, it cannot be stored inside the shepherd’s hut; in other words, before the Nanda Jaat, herbs can be collected only for urgent medical needs.