Burig

The Burig, or Purik, are another group of Tibetan Muslims with small dardic admixture, who live south of the Balti in Ladakh. Most of them live in Ladakh and Baltistan, especially in Kargil, although significant numbers reside in Leh.

Because they inhabit the higher reaches of the arid Himalayas, they depend on glacial runoff for irrigatation their crops. Barley, wheat, and millet are grown where water is sufficient, notably along small rivers. The hot summer temperatures also allow for a wide variety of fruits to be raised.

Unlike the Dards and the Shina, the Burig are not nomads. They transfer their livestock from one grazing ground to another upon the arrival of autumn. During the summer months, they drive the cattle to alpine pastures, and all households own at least one female dzo, which is a cross between a cow and a yak. These animals produce milk.

Most of them are Shia Muslims by religion, although significant Sunni Muslims and a small minority of Buddhists and Bön followers reside in isolated areas. Like the Balti, they speak an archaic Tibetan dialect very closely related to both Balti and Ladakhi and mutually intelligible with both.

External links

* [http://www.asiaharvest.org/pages/profiles/nonChina/India/Purik.pdf Ethnic profile by Asia Harvest]