Doda District - Culture

Culture

The District is known, not only for its rich cultural heritage and ethical values but also popular for its age-old traditions of secularism and the spirit of tolerance, which have been since times immemorial, binding the people together. The peaceful co-existence in this vast district has been possible only because of the observance in letter and spirit of these traditions which have since long been guiding the very destinies of the people professing varied faiths.

The District is having mixed culture and the people are Pehari Speaking. Because of its connectivity with Jammu, Srinagar, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, the people are generally speaking Kashmiri, Ladakhi, Dogri,and some Pehari languages like Bhadarwahi, Kishtwari and Serazi. The people are also credited to have unity in diversity. For example, besides regional languages, there are about one dozen languages being spoken in different areas. These are Kashmiri, Dogri, Bhaderwahi, Kishtwari, Siraji, Pogli, Khashali, Gojri, Paddri and Panjabi etc.

According to Dr. G.A.Fierson the word "Pahari" applies to the groups of languages spoken in the sub-himalayan hills extending from Bhaderwah to the eastern parts of the Nepal. The Bhaderwah group includes three dialects, viz Bhaderwahi, Bhalesvi and Padri. Bhaderwahi language is abundantly rich in words, phrases and idioms.

Islam entered the region of Doda when Hazrat Shah Farid-ud-Din came over to Doda via Dengbattal and Ramban in 1650 CE. He stayed at Doda for 14 long years and then left for Kishtwar.

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