MUSIC
Ladishah songs
Ladishah songs is a tradition even alive today in Kashmir. The songs are sung to entertain while conveying deep meaning messages about the current happenings, often using satire. The singer travels from village to village the lyrics are instantly made based on the present social or political situation of the village.
Sufiyana Mousiqui
This classical music form has Persian origins and is central to Kashmir's musical tradition. It features instruments like the Santoor, Sitar, Kashmiri Saaz, and Tabla. Sufiyana Mousiqui often includes spiritual and poetic lyrics.
Chakri
A popular form of traditional folk music in Kashmir, Chakri is often performed at weddings and other festive occasions. It involves storytelling through song, and common instruments include the harmonium, rabab, and noet.
DANCE
Rouf
The Rouf dance is performed by Kashmiri women. This folk dance is performed on arrival of spring in the valley. Women adorn colourful traditional dress called the pheran which has intricate embroidery, they wear traditional jewellery and dance in a group. The steps are simple, performed on soft rhythmic music. In this form, each performer wraps her arms behind the performer next to her in a line and step back and forth on the music. Some texts suggests the steps mimic movement of bees around a flower for nectar.
Bach Nagma
Bach Nagma is performed by men or young boys wearing traditionally feminine clothing. Originally this form of dance was to entertain and keep the farmers busy as they harvest the crop. In the modern times this dance is performed during the wedding celebrations usually on Mehndi raat.
Wuegi-Nachun
This dance form is traditionally performed by Kashmiri Pandit ladies during marriage ceremonies. The Kashmiri pandit women gather around the Bride when she is about to leave her paternal home. The ladies sing songs that depict emotions of leaving the paternal home and love for family.
KASHMIRI SINGERS AND SONGWRITERS
Ghulam Hassam Sofi
Vijay Kumar Malla
Kailash Mehra Sadhu
Shameem Dev Azad
Raj Begum