| Jammu and Kashmir Culture |
| Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India that has a Muslim majority population. Though Islam is practiced by about 67% of the population, the state has large and vibrant communities of Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. Jammu and Kashmir has three distinct components. In Jammu Hindus constitute 65% of the population, Muslims 31% and Sikhs, 4%. n Ladakh, Buddhists constitute about 46% of the population, the remaining being Muslims. The population of the Kashmir Valley is 97% Muslim. In total, the Muslims constitute 67% of the population, the Hindus about 30%, the Buddhists 1%, and the Sikhs 2% of the population. The state of Jammu & Kashmir is a region of widely varying people and geography. In the south, Jammu is a transition zone from the Indian plains to the Himalayas. Jammu's Dogra culture and tradition is much similar to that of neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Traditional Punjabi festivals are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm throughout the region. After the Dogras, Gujjars form the second-largest ethnic group in Jammu. Known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle, Gujjars are also found in large numbers in the Kashmir valley. Similar to Gujjars, Gaddis are primarily herdsmen who hail from the Chamba region in Himachal Pradesh. Gaddis are generally associated with emotive music played on the flute. The Bakkarwalas found both in Jammu and the Vale of Kashmir are wholly nomadic pastoral people who move along the Himalayan slopes in search for pastures for their huge flocks of goats and sheep. Correctly, the rest of the state is Kashmir but in practice this title is reserved for the valley of Kashmir, a large Himalayan valley in the north of the state. The Dumhal is a famous dance in the Kashmir valley, performed by men of the Wattal region. The women perform the Rouff, 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. The Constitution of India does not allow people from regions other than Jammu and Kashmir to purchase land in the state. As a consequence, houseboats became popular among those who were unable to purchase land in the Valley and has now become an integral part of the Kashmiri lifestyle. Kawa, traditional green tea with spices and almond, is consumed all through the day in the chilled winter climate of Kashmir. Most of the buildings in the Valley and Ladakh are made from softwood and is influenced by Indian, Tibetan and Islamic architecture. |
| Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India that has a Muslim majority population. Though Islam is practiced by about 67% of Ladakh on the other hand, has been the highest living centre of Tantrayan Buddhism. The people of Ladakh are of Indo-Tibetan origin. Chanting in Sanskrit and Tibetan language forms an integral part of Ladakh's Buddhist lifestyle. Annual masked dance festivals, weaving and archery are an important part of traditional life in Ladakh. Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being thukpa, noodle soup and tsampa. Typical garb includes gonchas of velvet, elaborately embroidered waistcoats and boots, and gonads or hats. People, adorned with gold and silver ornaments and turquoise headgears throng the streets during various Ladakhi festivals. |