Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have a multifaceted, multi religious and multiethnic culture distinct to the three areas of the state. Kashmir became the centre of Sanskrit literature during the early Indo Aryan civilisation, Persian flourished with the advent of Islam in the region opening it up to influences of Persian culture and civilisation. Ladakh developed into a centre of Buddhism with strong Tibetan influence while Jammu remained the repository of Hindu religion and its cultural impact. A long line of secular rulers amalgamated these diverse strains into a rich cultural heritage unifying all these religious, ethnic and linguistic divisions.
The Hindu Dogras revel in songs and dances with the central romantic theme of reuniting with the lover. The folk dances of Jammu include the 'Kud', a ritual dance in honour of local deities, the 'Heren' - agenre of folk theatre, the 'Fumenie' and 'Jagarana' sung by women at weddings, and ballads of Gwatri and Karak. The hill region of Kashmir has a rich tradition of music deeply influenced by Sufism. The 'Hafiz Nagma' is a genre of Sufi music performed by a female dancer along with musicians playing the saz, santoor, tabla and sitar while the 'Bhand Pather' is the popular folk theatre that usually features plays with satirical themes. The saz, santoor, sarangi, rabab and garaha are musical instruments indigenous to Jammu and Kashmir and accompany 'Chakri' folk singers.
In Ladakh, Buddhism plays a central role in the life of the people. Gompas (monasteries) are the focus of village life, acting as temples and schools as well as cultural centres. Ladakhis celebrate their marriages with a lot of singing and dancing. There are lengthy sessions of narrative interspersed with group songs and dances. The nomadic herdsmen of Zanskar perform the 'Alley Yate' while roaming with their flocks, while the 'Jabro' is performed in the regions of Chang-Thang and Rong.
Kashmir is a repository for
