Daksum Valley | Jammu and Kashmir | India | 192202

The local culture and traditions are highly deeply rooted in Daksum Valley, having been entrenched into the very rich heritage of the Kashmir region-a supposed unique combination of Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist influences combined with the ancient practices, customs, and way of life. Even though it is nestled in remotes isolation and peace, a lot of the cultural fabric has been very much similar to that of the entire Anantnag district and wider Kashmir Valley. Daksum Valley: A Glimpse into the Local Culture and Traditions.

a. Religion and Spirituality
Religious: Virtually the entire Kashmir and Daksum Valley is pretty Muslim. Here, Islam has penetrated almost every spectrum of life. There are many mosques and shrines here, and religious activities such as namaz (prayers), Ramadan fasting, and Eid celebrations occupy a very crucial place in their lives.

Historical Perspective of Kashmir and Sufism with Shrines: The state has a long history of Sufism and Daksum is no exception to this. The region houses a number of shrines of Sufi saints; many of them, with time, have transformed into centers of religious activities for the locals as well as the tourists. Ziarats or the graves of Sufi saints are considered the foremost places of pilgrimage, both to get blessings and to pursue some of the religious activities.

Besides that, local fairs and cultural festivals are also much observed by the community in which they celebrate. An example is Shab-e-Barat, or the Night of Forgiveness. On this day, people gather at mosques for prayer and festivities.

Hindu Heritage: Even though Daksum is a Muslim place of religious worship, the heritage as a whole in Kashmir Valley is very steeped in Hinduism. Of the towns around it, Pahalgam and Anantnag have Hindu temples and rituals still going on. Amarnath Yatra brings thousands of pilgrims many of whom pass through this place. It is a major pilgrimage for devotees to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva.

2. Traditional Kashmiri Arts and Crafts
The valley is very developed in the tradition of craftsmanship, and the people of Daksum Valley are certainly not an exception in trying to keep all these artisanal practices alive.

Pashmina and Woolen Products: The woolen products are from Kashmir, particularly the Pashmina shawls that have been designed all over the world with their soft texture. But these costly fabrics are handmade by the brilliant artists of this place. Although Daksum is a small village, the big cities are Anantnag and Srinagar which have manufacturers for woolen products.

Kashmiri Carpets and Rugs: In addition to the shawls, Kashmiri carpets are another product which this valley is famous for. The wool or silk-based carpets that take their shapes through hand-knotted traditional techniques passed over generations are very masterly crafted.

Paper Mâché: The elaborately done paper mâché is something unique in the art of Kashmir. Local artisans here make colourful boxes, bowls, etc. Decorative items, are done through this ancient technique. Though more predominant in urban areas, this craft is also followed in the rural areas of Kashmir.

3. Traditional Dressing
Traditionally, the clothing of people in Daksum Valley represents the weather condition and culture prevailing in the region.

Kashmiri Local Men's Dress In winter, in Kashmir, where he normally spent winters, he mainly wore a pheran, which is loosely comfortable woolen cloak. Wool is broadly used and very warm; in the winter they become coarse. He wore kufi caps or Pashmina shawls and on special occasions, Chogas, kinds of Kashmiri embroidered waistcoats.

Women of Daksum mainly wear a pheran, which covers almost all parts of their body, an all-time woolen gown. Salwar kameez is also one of the traditional woman wears of Kashmir and it encompasses a tunic worn along with loose pants. Head scarfs or Dupattas are normally intricately embroidered with women, and their attires are made of fine wool or cotton as the season demands.

Jewellery: Both have the traditional Kashmiri ornaments ranging from gold and silver ornaments to earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Of course, among women, Kashmiris take most of the pride in the beauty of their Guluband (a sort of necklace) and Jhumkas (earrings).
4. Music and Dance
While music and dance are highly traditional aspects of culture in Daksum, the nature of the performance itself would be comparatively informal and community-based compared with the city-based understandings of such performances.

Folk music. The classical Sufi and folk elements can easily be seen in the Kashmiri music. Folk music contains a lot of Santoor, Rabab, Tabla, and Dhol. These are used for performance purposes. Folksy songs which have historical backgrounds common in the valley and their people and nature form a part of social functions and festivals.

Dance: Though traditional dance forms, such as Rauf are hardly witnessed in the celebrated festivals of Kashmir, Daksum people never forget to celebrate occasions like weddings, festivals, and other religious events with group dancing. The Rauf is a majestic dance and is gracefully performed at all colors of attires even in the rural sites too.

5. Cuisine and Hospitality
Food and traditions are a part of the culture in Kashmir but Daksum has never had its own. Traditionally, Kashmiri food is famous for rich flavored dishes that consist of mutton, rice, and spices.

There are the most celebrated traditional dishes that characterize this region-Rogan Josh, Yakhni, Kashmiri Pulao, and Sheer Chai. Local cuisine also encompasses Nadru Monje-fried lotus stem fritters-and Kehwa-spiced green tea-the other way around. Wazwan is this Kashmiri's traditional feast and is a must element during big occasions and weddings.

Hospitality: The people are so warm and hospitality, and this feature was also noticed in the villages also such as Daksum. In villages, people like providing Kehwa to the guests and also would ensure they can also share in a meal. Festivals have so much food stuff, and family and friends join in to relish their meals.
6. Local Crafts and Festivals
Similar to the rest of Kashmir and the valley, Daksum observes the festival of Navroz, which is Kashmiri New Year, and Baisakhi, which is known as the harvest festival. It celebrates this festival through traditional food, folk dances, and prayers for prosperity.
Local Fairs and Pilgrimages: The religious practices of the valley lend its pilgrimages to the Sufi shrines and local fairs on special occasions. Most of the fairs and pilgrimages are inclusive of the following local crafts, food and cultural performances.