Culture in jammu and kahmir

Jammu and Kashmir:The Heaven on Earth.

Jammu and Kashmir, the very name conjures up images of unsurpassed scenic beauty snow-capped mountains, mesmerizing valleys, romantic lakes, arresting rivers, colorful flowers and enchanting landscapes with the mighty Himalayas as its backdrop. The credit for the international fame of this celestial destination goes to its overwhelming tourist attractions which never fail to leave tourists spell bound. Jammu and Kashmir is aptly called “heaven on earth”. If you have not seen Jammu and Kashmir, you have not seen the paradise on earth. Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost union territory of India. Jammu and Kashmir is situated mostly in the mighty Himalayas. The UT comprises 2 regions: the foothill plains of Jammu; the lakes and blue valleys of Kashmir. The Indus River flows through Kashmir and the Jhelum River rises in the northeastern portion of the territory. Set against the backdrop of snow-capped Pir panjal, ranges, Jammu Marks the transition between the Himalayas in the north and the dusty plains of the Punjab in the south, bridging these two extremities by a series of scrub covered hills, forested mountain ranges and deep river valleys.

Jammu Kashmir is a diverse blend of various cultures People from different religious and social practices of Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist have created a composite culture of the state which is called Kashmiriyat. Kashmiri comprises of Kashmiri Pundits, Kashmiri Muslims, Gurjars and Rajasthani Rajputs.Kashmiri Weddings traditions are full of joyful and traditional ceremonies. Emphasis is also laid into matching the background, status and the reputation of the family of the prospective match. Costumes of Jammu and Kashmir are well known for their embroidery and intricate designs, which reflects the richness of the culture and landscape of the region. The form of clothing is designed to counter the cold climate of the region. Most of the garments are made of wool, silk designed with intricate embroideries and cotton.

 It is important to note that Kashmiri culture is predominantly followed only in the Kashmir valley and Doda of the Chenab region. Jammu and Ladakh have their own distinct cultures that are very different from that of Kashmir.

The Dumhal is a famous dance in the Kashmir valley, performed by men of the Watal caste. The women perform the Roaff, another traditional folk dance. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts Shikaras traditional small wooden boats, and houseboats are a common feature in various lakes and rivers across the Valley. Kashmiri culture is defined in terms of religious values, Kashmiri language, literature, cuisine and traditional values of mutual respect. The overwhelming majority of Kashmiris are Muslims and Islamic identity plays a very important role in the daily lives of people. Kashmiris across the religious divide have for centuries shared cordial and friendly ties. Kashmiri poets and writers like Mehjoor, Abdul Ahad Azad, etc. enriched the literature with their poetry. Kashmiri cuisine holds a unique place among different world cuisines. Salted tea or Noon Chai also called Sheer Chai is the traditional drink and is cooked in a Samavar, a Kashmiri tea-pot. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts. Shikaras, traditional small wooden boats, and houseboats are a common feature in various lakes and rivers across the Valley. Kehwa, traditional green tea with spices like cardamom, Saffron and almond, is served on special occasions and festivals. Kashmiri weddings are regarded incomplete without the Kashmiri traditional food known as Wazwan, which is typically spicy food cooked by the traditional cooks (Waz). Wazwan is a multi-course meal in which almost all the dishes are meat-based. kanger is an earthen pot woven around with wicker filled with hot embers used by Kashmiris beneath their traditional clothing to keep the chill at bay, which is also regarded as a work of art. It is normally kept inside the Phiran, the Kashmiri cloak, or inside a blanket.                                                                                    

 In Jammu and Kashmir, the most important tourist places are the Kashmir Valley, Srinagar, the Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg,Doodhpathri and many more. Jammu and Kashmir abounds in flora and fauna. From the flora of the arid plain to the temperate and alpine flora of the higher elevation, Jammu has it all.  Kashmir produces a wide range of agricultural products such as� apples, barley, cherries, corn, millet, oranges, rice, peaches, pears, saffron, sorghum, vegetables, saffron and wheat. The fauna of Jammu and Kashmir include leopard, cheetah,Ibex, Snow Leopard, Musk deer, wolf, Markhor, Red bear, Black bear, deer, wild sheep, bear, brown musk shrew, musk rat, snakes, bats, lizards and frogs, chakor, snow partridge, pheasants, peacock. Some of the wildlife destinations of Jammu and Kashmir are Dachigam National Park, Gulmarg Biosphere Reserve, Jasrota National Park, Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, Nandni Wildlife Sanctuary,Ramnagar National Park, Surinsar Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary. Due to the variation of topography, the climate of Jammu and Kashmir varies greatly. In summers, the temperature of Kashmir varies from 10 �C to 25 �C. The winters are very cold with temperature dropping below 0 �C. The plains of Jammu are relatively hot with temperature rising to 35�C in summers. In winters the temperature of Jammu drops to around 5�C.

                                        

Azhar Yousuf