Haridwar
Haridwar is one of the most sacred cities in the Hindu religion and the main seat of hereditary genealogists called pandas. Each panda keeps records of a group of clans/ families and certain geographical areas. Visitors to Haridwar visit the panda for their clan and update their records in the registers of the pandas called bahis.
Hindus also visit their panda in Haridwar on the occasion of the death of a family member, have certain prayers, rituals and ceremonies conducted and update their records. Pandas have with them centuries old family records, particularly of the patrilineal lines.
During my research, I visited Haridwar 2 or 3 times, met the pandas concerned with all my ancestral clans and collected a large amount of genealogical information. Below are vignettes from the city during a cold winter evening.
Hindus also visit their panda in Haridwar on the occasion of the death of a family member, have certain prayers, rituals and ceremonies conducted and update their records. Pandas have with them centuries old family records, particularly of the patrilineal lines.
During my research, I visited Haridwar 2 or 3 times, met the pandas concerned with all my ancestral clans and collected a large amount of genealogical information. Below are vignettes from the city during a cold winter evening.