Himachali

Himachali refers to the people of Himachal Pradesh, a northern Indian state, and to the languages and cultural traditions associated with them. The term is often used as an umbrella for a group of Western Pahari dialects spoken across the state, rather than for a single language. Linguistically, Himachali languages are part of the Indo-Aryan family and are usually grouped under Western Pahari; they exhibit considerable regional variation and are not mutually intelligible in every case. Commonly cited varieties include Kullu Pahari, Mandeali, Kangri, and Kinnauri, along with other local dialects such as Sirmauri in different districts.

Most Himachali languages are written in Devanagari; historical inscriptions and some community scripts such as Takri have been used in the past.

These languages are spoken by the diverse communities of Himachal Pradesh, as well as by diaspora communities in adjoining regions and cities. In everyday life, Himachali identity is expressed through music, dress, festivals, and cuisine reflecting alpine and agrarian traditions. Himachal Pradesh became a full state of India in 1971. The term Himachali continues to be used to describe residents and their heritage. In contemporary India, many Himachalis are bilingual or multilingual, speaking Hindi or English alongside their native language.