Himachal Pradesh, spread over 55,673 sq.km., The state is located in altitudes ranging from 450 meters to 6500 meters above sea level.

The region of Himachal Pradesh was called 'Deva Bhoomi' (the land of the gods). Ninety three percent of the state population are engaged in agriculture. Most of the land is owned by Rajputs, Brahmins and Mahajans (the high caste) who dominate the economic and political life of the state. They dominate in ritual status too.

Scores of races, communities and cultures have intermingled in Himachal. The crime rate is very low. There faiths are simple, beliefs primitive and myths difficult to fathom. A birth, a fair, a community gathering, a marriage, a festival all provide them opportunity for song and dance. Their has been relatively a closed society. They hardly ever lock up their houses.

Hindi is the state language but people mostly converse in 'Pahari'. This language has various dialects or sub-languages. Grierson in his linguistic survey had called it 'Western Pahari' and had demarcated its area from Jainsar Bawar in the Uttar Pradesh hills (near Dehra Dun) to Bhadarwah in Jammu and Kashmir.

Dhoti, kurta, coat, waistcoat, turban (or cap), a hand towel upon the shoulders and a copy of the Panchang (astrological ephemeris) under the arm are the traditional attire of the Brahmin priest. The Rajputs wore tight fitting churidar pyjamas, a long coat, a starched turban with a special crown, pointed shoes, a flourishing pair of moustaches and a frown upon their foreheads.

The houses are built of clay bricks and the roofs are of slate. In the hill areas stones are used instead of bricks and timber is used for the roofs. The cattle houses are close to the house. People prefer pucca houses.