CULTURE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR--- BY(Naman Sharma ; 22BCS14848)

  Culture of Jammu and Kashmir : 

Jammu Kashmir has a diverse blend of many cultures. It has a composite culture created by people from different religions such as Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist. This composite culture of Kashmir is also known as Kashmiriyat. 

The cultural significance of this place is great. The people of J& K have made huge contributions towards the world culture in the form of their crafts, written words, oral histories, science, and philosophy. Most of the tourists travel to Kashmir to experience the tradition and culture of J&K. 

Languages of  Jammu and Kashmir :           

The most common languages of Kashmir are Urdu, Hindi, Ladakhi, Purig, Tibetan, English, Kashmiri, and Dogri. The foremost language of Kashmir is Kashmiri. Hindi is mostly used by Gujjar and Kashmiri Pandits.  Dogri also known at times as the Pahari language, this is mostly used by people known as Dogras from the Duggar region. Urdu is mostly used by the Muslims in the region. English is the world language that is mostly used by businessmen, shopkeepers, guides, and the locals for easier communication with the tourists. As per the recent language bill passed by the Lok Sabha, the official languages of Kashmir are Dogri, Kashmiri, Urdu, English, and Hindi. 

Costumes of Jammu and Kashmir: 

The costumes of Kashmir are world-renowned for their intricate style and embroidery that showcases the culture of this region. The costumes of Kashmiri people are quite attractive and colorful. The traditional dress of Kashmir is generally made up of wool, cotton, and silk designed with embroideries. The dresses are designed according to the weather of the region. 

The Pheran is the traditional dress of the Kashmiri people. It is a type of overcoat worn by people during winters. The Pheran is decorated with embroidery work and colorful patches. Most of the women wear headgear and men wear a skullcap. 


Cuisines in Jammu Kashmir :                                                                     

Kashmiri cuisine is a classic combination of Mughal, Muslims, and Kashmiri Pandits styles. Kashmiri food is generally meat-based, cooked slowly for a long time with numerous spices. Alcoholic drinks are detested in Kashmir. Kahva, the traditional green tea with almonds and spices is generally consumed during winters. Other popular dishes of the region are Kashmiri Pulao, Karam Sag, Dum Aloo, and Phirni. 

Music and Dances of Jammu Kashmir : 


Kashmir has its unique style of music and dance performances. Dance and Music is an inseparable part of all festivals and fair in this region. Mask Dance is one of the famous dance forms in Kashmir wherein the dancer’s wear brocade robes and face mask and is mostly performed during the Hemis festival. Dumhal is another famous dance form in the valley, generally performed by men and women perform Rouff. The other popular dance forms are Ladishah, Rouf Dance, Chakri, Roul, and Dogri. The popular musical instruments are Dukra, Sitar, and Nagara.