Culture of Kashmir

The culture of Kashmir refers to the culture and traditions of Kashmir, a region in northern India (consisting of Jammu and Kashmir), northeast Pakistan (consisting of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit–Baltistan) and the Chinese Occupied territory of Aksai Chin.

The culture of Kashmir is a diverse blend and highly influenced by northern South Asian as well as Central Asian culture. Along with its scenic beauty, Kashmir is famous for its cultural heritage; it amalgamates Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist philosophies and has involved composite culture based on the values of humanism and tolerance which is collectively known as Kashmiriyat.

Background

Kashmir

The most important part of the cultural identity of the Kashmiri people is the Kashmiri(Koshur) language. This language is spoken only in the Valley of Kashmir by the Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims. Besides language, the Kashmiri cuisine and culture has been greatly influenced by Central Asian and Persian cultures for both communities. Kashmiri is an Indo-Aryan (linked to Rigvedic-Sanskrit) language close to Central Asian Avestan-Persian. In fact Kashmir is genuinely Central Asia and Buddhism travelled mainly from Kashmir to neighboring Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Both bordered ancient Kashmir. Cultural music and dance like Wanvun, Rouf, carpet/shawl weaving and Koshur Sufiana forms a very important part of Kashmiri identity. Kashmir has witnessed many spiritual gurus who migrated from their land to kashmir or has even witnessed the birth of some of the great poets and suifs of all time like LAL DAED,SHEIK-UL-ALAM many more and that's why it's regarded as PEERI VAER (a place or land of spiritual gurus) It is important to note that Kashmiri culture is predominantly only in the Kashmir valley Doda region. The other regions of the Larger J&K state, such as Jammu and Ladakh are very different from Kashmir.