IJRSS Volume 5, Issue 1 ISSN: 2249-2496 _________________________________________________________ A Quarterly Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International e-Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gage, India as well as in Cabell’s Directories of Publishing Opportunities, U.S.A. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences http://www.ijmra.us 769 February 2015 Sati Tradition in Himalayan Region; A Case Study of Mandi District of Himachal Pradesh Dr. Sandeep Singh Raghav * Kuldeep Singh ** Abstract Sati tradition was a social evil associated with the women. A few instances related with this practice are also found in Mandi region of Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. There are many memorial stones and a few descriptions of sati in some books on the history of Mandi. There are mythical and religious causes behind this practice not only in Mandi but also all over India. A widow woman chooses her death willingly or by force and burns herself on the funeral pyres of her dead husband. My aim here is to research on this tradition in Mandi region and how this tradition affected the society. Also an attempt has been made to trace the connection between folk traditions and historical developments related to sati. Keywords Barsile- Memorial stones which were constructed in the memory of those queens and other women who burnt themselves on the pyre of their dead husband. Khwasi- Caste of female entertainer Lokgatha- folk ballad Rakhail- mistress Sarrade-ri-dhar- Name of a hill where a widow committed sati. Sati or Sarrada- practice of widow throwing onto her husband’s funeral pyre/widow burning. ______________________________________________________________________________________ * Asst. Prof. in History, Govt. Degree College Jukhala, Bilaspur (H.P.), ** Research Officer, Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies, H.P. University, Shimla-5,