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ROUF
Rouf is the most popular dance in the Kashmir Valley and is restricted
only to the womenfolk. Usually performed during the harvesting season, but
the most essential occasion of its performance is the month of Ramzan when
every street and corner in Kashmir resounds with Rouf songs and dance.
DHAMALI
Dhamali is a devotional dance performed by men in Kashmir to invoke the
blessing of the gods. The occasions of the dance are ceremonial ones, but
it is very popular with the pilgrims going on Ziarat (shrine). The flag
bearer leads the dancing party in procession. The flag of 'Alam' is fixed
in the ground and the dancers form a circle around the pole and perform
the dance.
HIKKAT
HIkkat is a playful dance of the young boys and girls in Kashmir. The
young ones form couples and the partners, interlocking their arms, hold
each other's hands. Joining their feet close, they bend their bodies and
heads backwards. Facing each other, they go round and round with perfect
precision in a fast dizzy spin. They also sing of their innocent and
affectionate relations with their elders. A unique part is that no musical
instrument is played while performing the Hikkat.
BHACHA NAGMA
Bhacha Nagma is a folk version of the Hafiz-Nagma, a dance meant for the
sophisticated and initiated audience. Instead of Hafiza - a women dancer,
a boy wearing the costume and jewelry of a women dance in Bacha Nagma. He
sings and dances with the musical accompaniment of Sarangi, Rabab,
Shehnai. Tumbaknari, Dholak, etc. This dance is a popular form of
entertainment for the common masses.
CHHAKARI
Chhakari is the most popular form of folk singing in Kashmir. The singer
while singing Chhakari songs also depicts the meaning of the verse through
dancing movements. Thus, it is the dancing, singing and musical part that
brings out the latent meanings of the Chhakari songs. Chhakari is sun on
all festive occasions. The musical instruments such as the 'Rabab',
'Noot', 'Tumbaknari', Sarangi, etc support the singing and dance in
Chhakari.
KUD
Kud is a typical community dance performed in the middle mountain ranges
of Jammu. During the rainy seasons, when the
maize is harvested, the villagers come down from the nearby hills and
gather in the vicinity of the local deity - "the Gramdevta". To
express their gratitude for protecting their crops, cattle and children
from natural calamities, the farmers dance Kud for the deity. Men, women
and children, attired in their best, gather around a bonfire for the
nightlong festivities.
PHUMANIA
Phumania is an invocative dance that is performed in the villages of
Jammu and Kashmir, in which worshippers of "Gagaihl"
expresses their gratitude to the deity. The villagers dance and pray to
the deity to protect their cattle & children from the natural
calamities. The dance is performed only by the menfolk.
JAGRANA
Jagrana dance is a part of the post wedding celebrations, restricted to
the womenfolk and is always performed while singing various songs. It is
held after the menfolk leave the house with the bridegroom to bring the
new bride. Attired in their best, gaudy, colorful garments they sing and
dance the whole night.