Himachal shepherds begin annual winter migration

Sawra Hill (HP), Sept 21 (ANI): Scores of shepherds in Himachal Pradesh have begun migrating to warmer planes with their cattle at the onset of winter.

"In winters, we go down the hills and in summers, we move up the hills," said Mustaffa, a shepherd.

These shepherds mostly belong to Gujjar and Gaddi community, who have been seeking a permanent place to settle down.

"We hope that one day, we will get land and place to live from the government here. We have been moving like this for generations. We would like to live like other people in the state. We demand a permanent home," said Shamsher Ali, another shepherd.

Shepherds make their annual migration in search of better shelter and pastures for their cattle.

Every year, hundreds of sheep, goats and cows die, stranded in the mountains in heavy snow. (ANI)