Kashmir- Its Festivals

Festivals

Festivals in Kashmir Province - Shivratri| Navaratra | Navroz | Durga Ashtami | Vikrami Samvat | Urs | Shab-i-Mairaj | Jeth Ashtami | Rakhi | Janam Ashtami | Vaitha-Vatur-Truvah | Diwali | Muharram | Guru Nanak Dev | Dussehra | Khichri Amavasya | Gori Trai | Basant Panchmi | 

Festivals in Kashmir Province

Shivratri or Herat

The Shivratri festival or Herat, which falls in Feb-Mar is also celebrated by Kashmiris. It lasts for about a fortnight. Hindus spring-clean their houses during this fortnight, wear new clothes, and buy utensils. Women go to their parents homes to get the 'festival money', as they call it. The worship of Shiva and Parvati starts three days  before the festival. It is said that Shiva and Parvati were wedded on Shivratri. The offerings in this worship are walnuts soaked in earthen utensils. The four parts of the kernel represent four yugas. After some days, people are seen carrying baskets containing these nuts to be distributed among relatives and friends.

Navaratra

The New Year day falls on first Navaratra - the first day of the new moon in the month of Chaitra. In every Hindu home, it begins with an invocation to Lakshmi, the goddess of  bounty. In every family, a young lady lays a large plate with paddy, sugar, curds, fruits, walnut, coins, a mirror, ink-holder and the New year scroll. Early in the morning she shows the plate to every inmate and thus seeks the blessings of the goddess for moral and material development of members of the family.

Navroz

The Navroz festival of the Shia Muslims comes a week after the New year day. They celebrate this nine-day festival with good eating and activities showing a spirit of gay abandon, in contrast to recitation of religious dirges that characterise most of their festivals.

Durga Ashtami

During the month of April they celebrate Durga Ashtami, followed by Ramnavami. It is the birthday of Lord Rama. For the Kashmiri pandits the day is also connected with goddess Durga, and they celebrate it with a feast of rice and meat viands, after the prayers.

Vikrami Samvat

In the middle of April or on the Baisakhi day, starts the New year of the Vikrami Samvat. The day presents a grand spectacle of colour and gaiety on the Dal lake and in the gardens that flank it.

Urs or Ziarats

The Urs (or Ziarats) is a typical Kashmiri festival. It is held annually at the shrines of Muslim saints on their death anniversaries. There is a saying " It snows when the Urs of Meesha Sahib is held, it is windy when the Urs of Batamol Sahib takes place, it rains on the occasion of the Urs of Bahauddin". These Urs are popular despite the rigours of weather. This is celebrated in different parts of Srinagar, not only by Muslims but Hindus and Sikhs as well. An interesting feature of the Urs celebrations at Batamaloo (the locality in Srinagar named after the saint Batamol Sahib) and in Anantag (Rishi Mol's anniversary) is that both Muslims and Hindus abstain from taking meat during the course of the festival.

The inter-communal participation is the main feature of the Urs celebrations. The anniversary of Rishi Pir, a Hindu saint, held on the fifth day of the full moon of Baisakh, at his home in Srinagar is attended by Muslims also.

Shab-i Mairaj /Shab-i-Barat

Muslim festivals which are celebrated nationally, include Shab-i Mairaj which is followed by Shab-i-Barat.  The dates of these festivals change in accordance with the appearance of the moon and shift by 10 days each year. During the night of Shab-i-Barat, the Muslims keep vigil. Legend goes that on this night the Holy prophet visits each house and relieves the pains of suffering humanity.

Ramzan

Another Muslim festival of this area is Ramzan. During the month of Ramzan, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking during the day.

Jeth Ashtami / Har Ashtami

Jeth Ashtami is succeeded by Har Ashtami in a month. These two days are the birthday and the incarnation day, respectively, of the Rajnya goddess. Hindus fast on these days and go on a pilgrimage to Kheer Bhawani, a well known spring-girt temple at Tulmula dedicated to the Goddess Rajnya Devi. After a bath in the cool stream nearby, incense and candles are burnt at the altar of the goddess.

The counterpart of Kheer Bhawani, is Devibal in Anantang, which is also a spring-girt temple. This temple is visited on these Ashtamis by Hindus living in neighbouring areas. A belief connected with these ancient shrines is that their water changes colour according to the state of the society. It has been known to become black before a disaster or calamity.

Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan

Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan in northern India is the day for brothers and sisters to renew the affectionate ties that bind them. On this day, the Kashmiri Hindus in Srinagar climb the temple of Shankaracharya on a hill top. This is believed to be an abode of Lord Shiva. But the more revered abode is situated in the far off, glacier-bound cave-shrine of Amarnath where pilgrims from all parts of India behold sacred pigeons - believed to be incarnations of Shiva and Parvathi. Those who cannot trek to Amarnath make it to Thanjivara cave - 3 km from the town of Bijibrara - to worship the Shiva lingam. The belief is that three pilgrimages to this shrine equal the merit gained by the Amarnath yatra.

Janam Ashtami

Kashmiris also celebrate Janam Ashtami, in August, just  eight days after Rakhi. Hindus fast on this day, hold religious meetings to propagate the teachings of the Gita. The Ras Leela of Lord Krishna is staged at some places.

Vaitha-Vatur-Truvah

On the 13th day of the lunar fortnight of Bhadon (Aug-Sep), Kashmiris celebrate a festival named Vaitha-Vatur-Truvah which  literally means: 'Vaitha for the River Jhelum-source-thirteenth day'. It is held at an ancient temple at Verinag, the source of the Jhelum, in which Hindus coming from all parts of the valley , participate along with some local Muslims. A big Havana ceremony is performed on the occasion.

Diwali

Diwali, the festival of light, is also celebrated in this area. It is an occasion for the puja of the new moon of Kartik (Oct-Nov).

Muharram

The Muslim festival, Muharram, marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the prophet's grandson, who was murdered at Karbala. Huge taziyas made of paper and wood are taken out in procession.

Guru Nanak Dev

The Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev in November is a very auspicious day for the Sikhs. They visit Chati Patshahi, near Hari Parbat. Epistles from the Granth Sahib are recited throughout the day.

Dussehra

On the tenth of Asvin (Sep-Oct), Dussehra is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Rama.

Khichri Amavasya

A typically Kashmiri festival known as Khichri Amavasya falls in the month of Posh (Dec-Jan). Kashmir is believed to have been the abode of Yakshas in ancient times. The Yaksha spirit is invited to relish Khichri (rice cooked with dal and ghee). It is believed that during the night the yaksha comes and tastes the Khichri served neatly in the attic along with a fish.

Gori Trai

In the month of Magh (Jan-Feb) comes the Gori Trai, on the third day after the new moon. The family priest brings gaudy scroll paintings for the children. Saraswati Puja is offered on the day.

Basant Panchmi

Basant Panchmi , is another festival celebrated in Kashmir. During this time, bird-loving Kashmiris cook yellow rice, prepare small balls of it and throw them on the roof for crows and other birds.

Kashmir- Its Arts and Crafts

Arts


Dance, drama, music and fine arts date back to hoary antiquity in the state as amply evidenced in the ancient historical records. The synthesising cult of Sufism favoured dance and music, and thus the classical dance forms prevalent in Kashmir absorb the influences from the dance techniques of Persia and central Asia. In the process, Kashmiri music developed affinities with both Indian and Persian prototypes and evolved  Sufiana Kalam  with fifty-four maqams (modes) which have Indian as well as Persian names .

As in the rest of India, classical dancing in Kashmir  had a religious back ground. One of the last Hindu kings of Kashmir,  Harsha (AD.1089-1101) was a lover of music and arts,  patronised  dance and drama. King Kalasa (AD 1063-89) introduced ballet dancing and choral music.

King and commoner alike cultivated music as a  fine art in ancient Kashmir. Music was played in Buddhist Viharas in the reign of Jalauka. Music was a must at religious ceremonies particularly those connected with tantric worship. It was King Kalasa who popularised light operatic songs.

The instruments most in favour were the flute, the lute and the drum. The temple music accompaniments were the conch, a big drum  and cymbals. There is also a hudukka  which can be compared to a bagpipe. Folk music also existed in  ancient Kashmir  as distinct genre, not in competition with classical music.




Crafts

Kashmir is known throughout the world as much for its arts and crafts as for its scenic beauty and bracing climate. The diverse articles range from woolen textiles of fleecy soft texture and matchless excellence in weaving, hand-woven carpets of finest warp and weft, to the exquisite designs worked on papier-mâché, wood work, silverware, etc are the products of unique craftsmanship.

Shawls

A unique position among Kashmir textiles is held by the celebrated shawl.

The process of shawl-making is fascinating from the start. Assiduously, women sort out of the lustrous, rough substance from the smooth fleecy wool of the Kel goat, and they ply it over a charkha (handloom) of the indigenous type, while chanting folk-songs. This fabric, called pashimina, takes two forms of the loom: the loom shawl (entirely woven on the loom ) and the embroidered shawl, which is woven with an embroidered pattern. The celebrated 'ring shawl' has been given in the popular name, because it can actually pass through a ring. Rare and different from the others is the Jamavar shawl. In this case, the threads of the warp and weft are dyed before weaving. The peculiar charm of this famous shawl is derived from the symphony of colour schemes depicting architectural and mythological figures interwoven with landscape designs.

A high-class shawl is expected to have the designs worked evenly on both sides. The price of a pashmina shawl may range anywhere from a few hundred rupees to thousands of rupees, depending upon the craftsmanship and the time factor involved in its creation.

Carpets

The namda, felt rug, made from beaten wool, which is then embroidered over, is an important branch of the kasida industry of Kashmir.

The gabba- a unique type of floor covering, prepared from old woolens in a variety of forms and designs- come next to the namda industry, and its manufacture is localised at Anantnag (Islamabad). Baramulla specialises in printed gabbas.

The chain-stitch rung, which resembles the gabba carpet, is also manufactured economically, as the base is Hessian cloth and coarse wool, over which floral and other motifs are worked.

The carpet industry, introduced into the Valley by Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, justly renowned. From the point of weaving, carpets are broadly divided into two classes: smooth-faced carpets and pile carpets. Pile carpets (kalins), made in Kashmir since the Muslim rule, attained great perfection. Worked with floral and other designs, the hand-woven pile carpet became the national craft of Kashmir.

The flora and fauna of different lands-Kashmir, Central Asia and Iran are depicted on the carpets of Kashmir in a harmony symbolic of traditional synthesis of Kashmir's diverse cults and cultures.

Embroidery

The embroidery of Kashmir, called kasida, is world-famous. Varied, rich in colour, elaborate in detail and exquisite in execution, the kasida patterns are freely drawn by the naqqash mostly from memory. The finest kasida work, particularly embroidered on shawls or saris, has no 'wrong' side.

The chain-stitch is also used for the making of a large number of miscellaneous articles such as bags, screens and cushion covers.

Kashmir- How to reach

Air : Nearest Jammu airport is 8 Kms. from the city centre. Indian Airlines operates scheduled from Jammu to Delhi- and Srinagar / Leh. Jet Airways also operates services between Jammu - Delhi and Jammu - Srinagar.

Reservation : Indian Airlines Tourist Reception Centre, Vir Marg,
Tel: 531582, 54273.
Airport Office: Tel: 531433.
Jet Airways, K.C. Residency, Tel: 574312.
Airport: Tel: 453666

Rail : Jammu Tawi is an important railhead of the Northern Railways serving the Jammu and Kashmir state.
Road : Jammu falls on National Highway 1-A and is connected by National Highway network to all parts of the country.

Bus Reservations :J&K SRTC,TRC, Vir Marg, Tel: 546851.
Railway Station, Tel: 430078 (PP).
General Bus Stand, Tel 542666. (Open from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Punjab Roadways, Tel: 542782

Taxi :
Special Tourist Taxi Association,
Tourist Reception Centre, Tel: 46266.

Tourist Information Offices

Tourist Reception Centre,  J&K Department of Tourism,  Vir Marg, Tel: 548172.	Tourist Office, J&K Department of Tourism, Railway Station Tel: 530078
Tourist Office, J&K Department of Tourism, National Airport Tel: 531917.	J&K Tourist Development Corporation, Tourist Reception Centre,  Vir Marg, Tel: 579554, 546412.
The Director Tourism (Kashmir), Tourist Reception centre, Srinagar. Tel: 452690/91,  Tel/Fax: 479547.	New Delhi 201 - 203, Kanishka Shopping Plaza, 19 Ashoka Road Tel: 3345373, Fax: 3367881.
Mumbai 25 North Wing, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Colaba Tel: 2189040, Fax: 2186172.	Kolkata 12, Chowringhee , Tel: 2285791, Fax: 2281950.
Chennai II - Floor, 36 / 36 - A, North Usamn Road, Tel / Fax : 8235958. Hyderabad 5 th Floor, Left Wing,  Chandra Vihar Complex M.J. Road,  Tel / Fax: 4734806.	Ahmedabad Airlines House, Lal Darwaza  Tel / Fax : 5503551.

Kashmir- Its Places to See

1. House Boat Fairy Land
2. Lamayuru
3. Pari Mahal
4. Gulmarg
5. Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden
6. Hazratbal
7. Shalimar Bagh
8. Mansar Lake
9. Sanasar Lake
10. Shankaracharya Hill
11. Mughal Gardens
12. Nishat Garden
13. Nagin Lake
14. Amarnath Yatra (Holy Cave)
15. Yousmarg
16. Charar-e-Sharif
17. Nubhra Valley
18. Gulmarg Gondola
19. Jame Mosque
20. Jama Masjid Mosque
21. Wular Lake, 
22. Sheshnaag Lake
23. Kloster Chemrey
24. Diskit Gompa (Diskit Monastery)
25. Baisaran
26. Hari Parbat, 
27. Manasbal Lake
28. Shah-E-Hamdam

Kashmir- Dress and Ornaments

Dress

Kashmiri people wear "pheran", a long loose gown hanging down below the knees. Hindu men wear churidar pyjama instead of shalwar. The less affluent Muslims wear skull caps, which looks cute and does not carry any shawl.

Kashmiri women are among the most beautiful in India. They have "an English rosiness of complexion behind the Eastern tan". The colour of their hair ranges from golden red to brunette and that of eyes from green, blue, grey to black. Besides being boats-women and farmers, the women of Kashmir lend a hand to their men-folk at shawl making, embroidery and other handicrafts.

The women wear the pheran, the voluminous Kashmiri gown, hemmed with a border and hanging in awkward folds. The long, loose pheran covers their physique no doubt, but does not blunt their physical appeal. Whereas a Muslim woman's pheran is knee-length, loose and embroidered in front and on the edges, a Hindu woman's pheran  touches her feet. For the sake of smartness and ease it is tied at the waist with folded material called lhungi. The long loose sleeves are fashionably decorated with brocade. With this type of Hindu costume goes the head-dress called taranga, which is tied to a hanging bonnet  and tapers down to the heels from behind. The folds of the taranga are made of brightly-pressed lines fastened to a pointed red-coloured and brocaded skull cap with a few gold pins at the sides. Over the head and ears are pieces of muslin embroidered in gold thread . The younger Hindu women, however have taken to the sari, after the 'reform movement' of the thirties. Even then, on the wedding day they have to wear the taranga ceremonially. It is covered with the palav of the bride's wedding sari. Taranga, thus stays as part of the bridal trousseau.

Unlike a Hindu woman's pheran, which gives her a Roman look, the Muslim woman's pheran is beautifully embroidered in front. Their head gear, the Kasaba, looks very different from the taranga. It is red in colour, tied turban-like and held tight by an abundance of silver pins and trinkets. It has an overhanging pin-scarf which falls grace fully over the shoulders. A work-a-day shalwar goes with it. Unmarried Muslim girls wear skull caps, embroidered with gold thread and embellished with silver pendants, trinkets and amulets.

With the passage of years, an appreciable change has come about in the dress of the Kashmiri women. Saris, shalwar-kameez, churidars and jeans are becoming popular, yet none of these belong to them as much as the good old pheran.

Ornaments

Kashmiri women generally have such love of jewellery that their headgear, ears, necks and arms glisten with ornaments. The typical ornament that Hindu women wear is the dejharoo, a pair of gold pendants, hanging on a silk thread or gold chain which passes through holes in the ears pieced at the top end of the lobes. The dejharoo is the Kashmiri panditani's mangal-sutra. Muslim women wear bunches of ear rings, the weight of which is supported by a thick silver chain. And there are ample bracelets and necklaces. The whole ensemble lends a most artistic effect to the appearance of Kashmiri women.

Kashmir- Its Personalities and Celebrities

Mani Kaul, Film director
Kanchi Kaul
Bansi Kaul, Theatre director
Aditya Dhar, Lyricist, Dialogue Writer, Playback Singer, Film Director
Moti Lal Kemmu
Pushkar Bhan
Pran Kishore
M.K. Raina
A K Hangal Film Actor,Ex.Chairman of IPTA
Raaj Kumar Famous Film Actor
Jeevan Villon (Omkar Nath Dhar), Famous for negative role.
Satish Kaul Tv & Film Actor
Kiran Kumar Dhar
Anupam Kher Famous Film Commedian
Soni Razdan TV & Film Actress,wife of Famous Film Producer Mahesh Bhatt.
K. K. Raina Actor
M. K. Raina, theatre
Raj Zutshi TV Actor
Kunal Khemu Bollywood Actor
Inder Kumar Kalla Serial Maker
Shereen Bhan, TV Anchor
Siddharth Kak, TV Host
Nidhi Razdan, News Reader
Maanvi Gagroo Film,TV and Theatre Actor
Ashoke Pandit Filmmaker & Television Director
Mohan Shah Actor,Anchor,Writer,Director
Sandeepa Dhar, Actress

Manohar Kaul (1925- ), painter
Ratan Parimoo (1936- ), art historian, and painter
Ghulam Rasool Santosh (1929–1997), painter
akshay raina2000-2011],painter

Raja Sukh Jivan, king of Kashmir (1754–1762)
Lalitaditya Muktapida, emperor of Kashmir (724-760)
Maharaja Hari Singh (1895–1961), the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir
Karan Singh (1931- ), son of Maharaja Hari Singh, diplomat, and politician
Rajanak Lakshman joo Raina, Indigenous Royal Lineage of Kashmiri/north himalaya Peoples.

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), first Prime Minister of independent India
Motilal Nehru (1861–1931), Indian independence activist, president of the Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi (1917–1984), Prime Minister of India, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991), Prime Minister of India, son of Indira Gandhi, grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru
Nawaz Sharif (1949- ), former Prime Minister of Pakistan

Suresh Raina (1986- ), member of the Indian national cricket team
Ishfaq Ahmed (1983- ), football player with Mohun Bagan
Rumeli Dhar (1983- ), Indian cricket player
Wasim Feroze (1986- ), football player with East Bengal FC

Kashmir- Its Language

Those who reside in the Kashmir Valley speak Koshur which is classified as part of the Dardic sub-group of the Indo-Aryan languages. These people include the Muslims of the Valley.

Kashmir- Its People

The Kashmiri (Koshur) people  are a Dardic linguistic group living in Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir who speak the Kashmiri language. Kashmiri is "a Northwestern Dardic language of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian subfamily of the Indo-European language family."[8] which is also known as Koshur . Kashmiris are not Dards (see Rajataringini0 but are Aryans while the Dards are neighbors of Kashmiris and are Aryan as well.

   Originally, the Kashmiris were mostly Hindus or Buddhist. Islam was introduced by Sufi saints from Central Asia, Hazrat Bulbul Shah of Anatolia and Hazrat Shah Hamadan of Hamadan, being the most prominent of them. Prince Rinchin of Ladakh, a Buddhist who was living in Jammu & Kashmir at the time came under the influence of Saint Bulbul Shah and converted to Islam. Later on, after the defeat of the Hindu ruler Suhadeva or suhadave [red giant] by Dulchu, Rinchin became King of Jammu & Kashmir and adopted the name Malik Saduruddin after converting. The Islamic influence on the Kashmiri population resulted in Islamic conversions. A majority of Kashmiri Pandits converted to Islam and became Muslims during the reign of Alamgir Aurangzeb. However, there are still communities of Hindus and Sikhs living in the Kashmir Valley, the former being known as Kashmiri Pandits. The origin of the Kashmiris according to mythology is from the Rishi Kashyap. The Kashmiris from their history, language and looks are the purest of Aryans. Racial genetics is still in an nascent discipline and is thus prone to fabrication.



The Kashmiris made remarkable contributions to story-telling, mystical poetry, the Shaiva philosophy, grammar and the sciences. Folk-songs and dances as well as the various arts and crafts, for which Kashmir is world famous, bear eloquent testimony to the artistic and cultural genius of the people of Kashmir.

Most of the people in the valley are fair-complexioned, with light brown hair, blue or grey eyes, chiseled features and fine physique. There are also people with a whitish complexion, black almond eyes and black hair. Kashmiris tend to be superstitious.

The Kashmiris, on the whole are non-aggressive and temperate in nature and very God-fearing. They have been regarded as non-martial in character.

They can be singled out as extremely warm, friendly, and hospitable. The Kashmiri Pandits life and habits are simple and frugal, he tends to be individualistic and largely intellectual. Traditionally, he avoids doing manual labour and has clung to professional and administrative jobs. In bygone days, he used to be reluctant to go away from his homeland but now he has changed completely. Kashmiri Muslims on the other hand, is generally more active, energetic and dynamic. He is an unrivalled craftsman, deftly producing time-honoured designs - intricate and beautiful - on papier-mache, wood, silver and gold and embroiders and weaves the most exquisite shawls, carpets and rugs. He is an excellent cultivator, rears sheep and cattle and is self-employed in cottage industries. He is also a shrewd businessman.

Kashmir- Culture and Cuisines

Distinct from the rest of the country, Jammu and Kashmir sports a multifaceted, multicolored and unique cultural blend. Not only the geographical conditions of the state are different but it can also be set apart demographically with varied ethical and social entities, diversity of religions flourishing in the area, different language and cultural forms and heritage albeit with an over-reigning harmony that blends in with the serenity and beauty of the region. One gets dazed by the sheer diversity and richness of art and architecture, fairs and festivals, rites and rituals, seers and sagas, languages and mountains that thrive amongst the unparalleled cultural cohesion, which is exemplary. 


The social structure is based on the extended family. However the wider kinship network of biraderi and how it impacts on relations and mobilization is equally important. The extended family is of fundamental importance as a unit of decision making and with respect to the relations of its members with wider society. The institution of biraderi*mdash;which loosely means brotherhood—provides a useful collective framework for promoting mutual well-being. This is achieved through help and co-operation in social, economic and political spheres and it reinforces a sense of belonging and collective self-assurance. 


Kashmir has been the highest learning centre of Sanskrit and Persian as Indo-Aryanic civilization has originated and flourished here. It also embraced the advent of Islam along with the virtues of Persian civilization such as tolerance, brotherhood and sacrifice. Nature's grand finale of beauty, Kashmir is the masterpiece of earth's creation and the folk performances of Kashmir are intimately mingled with the moods and movements of the seasons. 


Kud is basically a ritual dance performed in honor of Lok Devatas mostly during nights. A spontaneous dance, people of all ages and sexes participate in this folk dance form accompanied by musical instruments used during this dance are Narshingha, chhaina, flute and drums. Heren is a traditional theatre form performed during Lohri festival and is mostly performed in hilly regions of Jammu. The ladies perform Fumenie and Jagarana on the eve of groom's departure to in-laws house accompanied by the songs are sung by a group of females. This traditional dance form depicts the feelings and emotions of women folk. Bakh is known by many different names such as Gwatri, Kark and Masade and is actually a chorus narrative sung by a group of 10 singers without the accompaniment of any musical instruments. Gawatri is a tradition in which the singers narrate some text, which is enacted by the Gwatari dancers. Karak is a ballad with a story sung by the Jogi community who narrate a popular folk tale in their dance performance done by three members to the accompaniment of typical folk instrument called Rabab. The chorus singing tradition performed by specific tribal communities called Gujjars and Bakerwals is known as Benthe, which 5 to 7 members participate in the dance performance. 


Kashmir region has its own musical performances that have won the hearts of many of its visitors. Bhand Pather is a traditional folk theatre style exhibiting combination of play and dance in a satirical style where social traditions, and evils are depicted and performed in various social and cultural functions. Bhand Jashan is performed by a group of 10 to 15 artists in their traditional style accompanied by light music for the entertainment of people. The most popular form of Kashmiri folk music is called Chakri that bears resemblance to Chakra of mountainous regions of Uttar Pradesh. It was accompanied by Garaha, Sarangi, Rabab once as the musical instruments but today harmonium plays an important role in its presentation. Sufiana Music migrated to Kashmir from Iran in the 15th century and flourished here as the classical music form of Kashmir. It absorbed a number of Indian Ragas and Hafiz Nagma was once a part of Sofiana Music. In Hafiz Nagma a dancer is a female while her accompanists on various instruments are males. An Hafiza (dancer) moves her feet on musical notes. The instruments that go with this form are Santoor, Sitar, Kashmiri Saz, Wasool or Tabala. Today, only a few families in Kashmir are practicing this musical for.




Cuisines: 
In the olden times, almost every Kashmiri home in the plains had a professional Kashmiri cook in residence, who were the masters of their art. Pure ghee and mustard oil was used freely and every mealtime was an event in itself. Gradually and with time, the ladies of the household learnt the art under the specialized training of these culinary masters and became as proficient as their 'gurus'. As the living costs increased with time, the era of the super cooks came to an end. However, their art has not all lost. 


One can frequently taste the delicacies mastered by the chefs at Kashmiri weddings. Kashmiri cuisine that evolved in the Valley several centuries ago acquired some of the scrumptious elements of the Mughal art of cooking and yet has retained a distinct personality of its own. There were two great schools of culinary craftsmanship in Kashmir, namely those of Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims. The basic difference between the two schools was that the abundant use of heeng (asafetida) and curd among the Hindus and the open-handed use of onions and garlics among the Muslims. 


Hindu Brahmins or Kashmiri Pandits are not averse to eating meat and are rather voracious meat eaters. However, they prefer goat and that too a young one. The meat is generally chosen from the legs, neck, breast, ribs and shoulders and cut into large pieces. No vegetarian or non-vegetarian dish, except certain kababs, is cooked without curd. The Kashmiris often cook their food by heating it on two sides, from both top and bottom for that distinctive taste. The charcoal fire was their solution in the earlier days but oven serves as a good substitute these days. 


Originally, Kashmiri Pandits avoided onions and garlics but now many of them have acquired a taste for them and include them in certain recipes as optional. Though the basic principles of cooking are largely similar in almost all homes, certain Pandit families have adopted minor changes in both ingredients and methods. The most important of the retained traits are the liberal use of aromatic spices and the avoidance of onion and garlic in some homes. Kabargah, Kofta, Dum Alu, Methi Chaman and Firni are some of the delicacies of the region known for their sheer flavor and richness.


Kashmiri Muslims offer another gold mine of gourmet though except for the few restaurants and regional stalls in the country, this art is near extinction. Largely confined to Kashmiri homes in and out of the Valley, the professional cooks and masters of the art are known as 'wazas'. These people claim to be the descendants of the master chefs who migrated from Samarkand and parts of Central Asia at the beginning of the fifteenth century and were a vital part of the entourage that came to Kashmir during the reign of Timur (or Tamarlane). 


In the earlier days, the traditional Kashmiri Muslim banquet known as Wazwan, a feast fit for kings, which was perhaps the most unique and elaborate royal spread of meat and delicacies compared to the other parts of India. Comprising of thirty-six courses, fifteen to thirty dishes of Wazwan are varieties of meat. Many of the delicacies are cooked through the entire night under the expert supervision of a Vasta Waza or head chef, assisted by an entourage of wazas under him. Kashmir's most formal meal, Wazwan is not only a ritual but also a ceremony. Traditionally, no spoons, forks or knives are used for eating food. Eaten with fingers, getting invited to a Wazwan is a rare luxury that one can enjoy these days.


Rice is the staple food of the Kashmiris and meat cooked in delicious varieties, goes with it. Kashmiris pride over Karam Sag (a kind of leafy green vegetable), nadru (lotus stalk) and turnips. Wherever a Kashmiri goes, he carries these precious vegetables as token presents. Kashmiris are known for their culinary art or more accurately, the cooking of lamb dishes in various ways, each distinct in taste from the other. The tea that the Kashmiris drink is called Kahva - a concoction of green tea leaves brewed in the samovar and enriched with pounded almonds, cardamom seeds, and cinnamon stalks overdosed with sugar and served without milk. The other kind of tea is Shirchai-salted and milked, pink in colour, with lots of cream on top of it.




Popular lip smacking desserts from the Kashmiri cuisine are the Phirni, Shufta, Panjeeri, Shakar Pareh, Kasaar, Sevaiyyan and many more.


Chainsoo
Chamani Qaliya
Channa Usali
Chicken And Spinach Tikka
CHICKEN PATIA
Chilli Pakoras
Chuk Waangun
Cumin Chicken
Dal Dhokli
Dal Makhni
Daniwal Korma
Dum Aloo Kashmiri
Firun
Garlic Naan
Goashtaba
Goashtaba And Rista
Gosht Biryani
Gustaba 2
Qambargah
Khir
Roath
Rogan Josh
Shier Chay
Shish Kabab
Shufta
Sukhi Channa Dal
Tabak Maaz - Fried Lamb Ribs
Veth Chaman
Waari Muth
Yakhani

Kashmir- Its History

The word Kashmir is an ancient Sanskrit word which literally means Land of Kashyap Rishi. Kashyap Rishi was a Saraswat Brahmin and one of the Saptarshis, who was key in formalizing the ancient Historical Vedic Religion. The Kashmiri Pandits are his descendants and have named the valley after him, in his honour. According to the "Nilmat Puran," the oldest book on Kashmir, in the Satisar, a former lake in the Kashmir Valley meaning "lake of the Goddess Sati," lived a demon called Jalodbhava (meaning "born of water"), who tortured and devoured the people, who lived near mountain slopes.[4] Hearing the suffering of the people, Kashyap, a Saraswat Brahmin, came to the rescue of the people that lived there.After performing penance for a long time, the saint was blessed, and therefore Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and struck the mountain at Varahamula, boring an opening in it for the water to flow out into the plains below.The lake was drained, the land appeared, and the demon was killed.The saint encouraged people from India to settle in the valley.As a result of the hero's actions, the people named the valley as "Kashyap-Mar", meaning abode of Kashyap, and "Kashyap-Pura", meaning city of Kashyap, in Sanskrit.[4] The name "Kashmir," in Sanskrit, implies land desiccated from water: "ka" (the water) and shimeera (to desiccate).The ancient Greeks began referring to the region as "Kasperia" and the Chinese pilgrim Hien-Tsang who visited the valley around 631 AD. called it "KaShi-Mi-Lo" .In modern times the people of Kashmir have shortened the full Sanskrit name into "Kasheer," which is the colloquial Koshur name of the valley, as noted in Aurel Stein's introduction to the Rajatarangini metrical chronicle.

    The "Rajatarangini," a history of Kashmir written by Kalhana in the 12th century, concurs with Nilmat Puran, stating that the valley of Kashmir was formerly a lake. This lake was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyap, son of Marichi, son of Brahma, by cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla (Varaha-mula). Cashmere is a variant spelling of Kashmir, especially within the English language.Kashmir — a beautiful mountain state with clear rivers, evergreen forests and one of the highest death rates in the world. It is at the center of an age-old dispute between Pakistan and India that has dragged on from the independence of both nations over fifty years ago to the present time, with no resolution in sight. The combined population of the two nation totals over a billion, so no conflict between them is of passing importance, especially when nuclear weapons are involved. Pakistan and India share a common heritage, language, and traditions, yet the subject of Kashmir can push them to the brink of annihilation. Kashmir by culture, language and ethnicity is closer to Central Asia. Jammu and Azad Kashmir are South Asian in culture, but unlike these two districts, Kashmir on the other hand, has had centuries of influence from Central Asia.