Dance is the melody of the body. The body expresses its emotions and feelings through the mystical forms of dance. Kashmir, the magical and serene land of picturesque ice-caped mountains, beautiful valleys and lush greenery is home to several forms of folk dances that recapitulate the sorcerous cultural diversity of the state.
Dance is the hidden language of the soul and the body. The Kashmiri folklores comprise of a unique dance form for every celebration along with the soft and light music. The lifestyles of kashmiris is very subtle and quiet but, at times of festivals, the entire populace of the area gathers at a place to celebrate the festivals with one another. It is widely seen that men and women of Kashmir do not perform together in their folk dances, due to the predominantly Muslim culture followed by them.
Folk dances like Kud, Hikkat, Chhakari, Ladishah, Phumania, Jagrana, Dogri, Dandaras etc. are extremely popular in Kashmir and widely practiced.
1- Rouf
Rouf dance form is one of the popular traditional dance forms which are practiced by the Kashmiri people. From the ancient period, this dance form is an important part of Kashmir. In Kashmir’s capital city, this dance is pronounced as Row, but in the villages of the Kashmir, it is known as a Ruf. This envisaging dance form is typically performed in all the festive and other occasions, especially Eid and Ramadan days. The songs played during the dance are usually in a question-answer format. It is performed by a group of women facing each other.
2- Bhand Jashan
Bhand Jashan is very attractive and simple dance preformed in the Jammu & Kashmir state of India on many occasions. This dance has a smaller history and no records are available to be the older more than 300 to 400 years. The word “Bhand” carries the meaning of a clown and “Jashan” carries the meaning of function. On very occasions, the dancers put on the gesture of the clown and perform this dance. This dance is specially performed on marriages ceremonies or birth of a child or any other occasion of joy. This dance is performed on a particular story and thus it is a combination performance. The play describes in the dance is based on simple and joyful subjects. The satirical style is adopted to perform this dance.
Costumes
This dance is very popular in Western and Upper areas of Jammu and Kashmir. It is believed that Poonch district is the origin point of this dance. This dance is performed by both men and women.
Men
Men wear colorful Kurtas and Pyjamas with a colorful cap on head as headgear. A large “Dupatta: is also used by men either circled in waist or on forehead. A typically made “Juti” is also wear during performance. Men prefer to carry colorful “Rumals” in their hands like in “Bhangra” dance of Punjab.
Women
Women dancer wear “Kashmiri Pheran type Kurta” and “Salwar”. They use a scarf on head with special ornament of Kashmir. They also use a “Dupatta” in their waist. Footwear are the same as wear by men dancers.
Performance
This dance is performed in a group more than 10 and not more than 15. No heavy musical instruments area used in this dance. All the dancers put their hands in the waist of co-dancer and collectively move forward and backward with the light beats of the drums. This dance is like direct interaction with the spectators as dancers use the platform through the public. In this dance any story can be displayed even from a social aspect to a political issue too.
Language used in this dance is generally not Kashmiri but, Persian, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu area mixed according to the subject of dance is chosen.
Area
This dance is generally performed in Rajouri, Sopor, Kishtwar, Poonch, Doda and Pahalgam areas of the state.
3- Kud Dance
Kud is one of the art form which is performed and famous in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the art form which is performed in order to highlight the aficionados of these princely states. The performers who are performing this form of art is meant for paying their legend tributary to the Devtas of Lok, which is one of the most worshipped God in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. In order to make this dance form more attractive, it is performed under the open sky where there is all around twinkling stars and moonlight. It is the form where there is a group of 20-30 members who can perform this art form.
The people from all the caste, sex or creed come to enjoy the performance of Kud Dance. There are various instruments are used in the performance which is meant not only to increase the enthusiasm of the performers but also increase the enthusiasm of the audience toward the performance. Dancers try to perform well on each beat of the drums and on the rhythm of the music. It is performed all night and continues till morning hours.
4- Hikat Dance
The Hikat dance of Kashmir is one of the most popular folk dances of the state of Kashmir and is usually performed by the young girls of the Kashmir valley. Kashmir is a state of India which has witnessed tremendous evolution in terms of culture irrespective of the fact that the state has witnessed a lot of political disturbance and threats of terrorism because this is located in the line of control (LOC) in between India and Pakistan. There are several folk dance forms which are prevalent among the different communities in the state of Kashmir. The Hikat dance is one of the major folk dances in the state of Kashmir which is highly appreciated and acclaimed nationally and internationally.
History
The Kashmir region has a mixed culture with both the Hindus and the Muslims residing in the valley. The Hikat dance is one of the oldest folk dance forms which is being performed in the auspicious occasions like marriages and is of high importance in the Kashmiri culture. The Hikat dance is very well known but not much has been revealed about its origin and development over the time. But this is very obvious that this folk dance form is being practiced in the marriage ceremonies by the young girls for merriment and celebration of the occasion.
5- Hafiza Dance
Hafiza Dance is widely performed by kashmiris at weddings at home and when the wedding processions would be taken out on boats on the Jhelum River.
6- Bhand Pather
Bhands are typically the folk entertainers or dancers of Kashmir and Bhand Pather is a traditional folk theatre of Kashmir which is customarily performed in social and cultural ceremonies. It depicts social traditions and evils while bringing out the satire in them. It is a mighty amalgamation of dance and plays.
7- Bacha Nagma
Bacha Nagma dance form is also known as a Bacha Gyavaun which means melodious adolescent voice. This dance form is very famous in the Kashmiri People and it is also a very important cultural event in wedding ceremonies and also other culture base celebrations. Bachha Nagma dance is performed only by men and boys, they dress up like girls. Their dance attire make the similarity with the cloths, which are used in the Kathak dance form.
8- Wuegi-Nachun
Wuegi-nachun is type of folk dance which is celebrated by Kashmiri pundit women after the marriage ceremony in Shikhara. Kashmiri women dance around the bride rangoli and sing their traditional songs.
9- Ladishah
This dance form of Kashmir is very popular and Ladishah has a very essential position in the tradition of Kashmir music. Ladishah dance is a maliciously form of singing. These songs, shows the current situation of the political and social conditions which are very humorous.
10- Dumhal Dance
The Dumhal dance is performed only by the men of the Wattal tribe in Kashmir to pay tribute to invoke the Gods and is presented at the time of a pilgrimage to the Ziarat shrine. The men’s attire comprises of long colorful robes, with tall conical caps, adorned with beads and shells.
The various genre of music is explained as follows :
1- Chakri
This music form is one of the popular forms of the Kashmiri folk music which is practiced in Jammu and Kashmir. Chakri music is created by using the musical instruments like rubab, harmonium, nout and sarangi.
2- Classical
The music which is performed by the Hindu Kashmiri is majorly dominated by India’s classical music. To create this classical music, they use musical instruments like Sitar. The very popular Sangeet Ratnakara which was written by the Sarangadeva was a Kashmiri artist. If you will see the earlier Kashmiri text, you will find the presence of the Kashmiri musical instrument and music such as Rajatarangini and Nimata Purana by the Kalhana.
3- Sufiana Kalam
This is a classical music form of Kashmir. This music uses, its own made ragas. To create this classical music, the artists use Kashmir’s famous instrument which has hundreds of string known as Santoor, also the wasool, sitar, Kashmiri saz, tabala etc.
There are many shows which are organized in Kashmir, where you can enjoy the dance and the sweet music of Jammu Kashmir which will surely mesmerize you. Their dance forms have made Jammu Kashmir a hot and rhythmic destination for the tourists.
