Published on 19 Mar 2025
• Recently, the Himachal Pradesh state government finally issued the notification to give Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Hattee community
• Hattis are a close-knit community that got their name from their tradition of selling homegrown vegetables, crops, meat, wool, etc. at small markets called ‘haat’ in towns.
• They follow a rigid Caste System - the Bhat and Khash are upper castes, and the Badhois are the lower caste and inter-caste marriages are strictly discouraged among them.
• The Hattis are governed by a traditional council called Khumbli, which like the Khaps of Haryana, decide community matters.
• The Khumbli’s power has remained unchallenged despite the establishment of the Panchayati Raj System.
• Hatti men traditionally wear a distinctive white headgear on ceremonial occasions.
Hattee Community
tribe
scheduled tribe
tribal community