Ashok Sharma
Culture is the way of life of a group of people of a particular region. It includes the collective knowledge, beliefs, ideas, customs, etc. of the people of that region. Dogras, who inhabit the Duggar region in our State,have a rich culture of their own. They have their own beliefs, mores, folksongs, folkdances, folklores etc which they have practised since times immemorial. But the modern fast life, globalisation and exposure of the youth to the western culture has influenced the Dogra culture a lot. A large no of people, especially the youth are losing charm for our rich culture. Amidst all this,the people of Udhampur district have withstood this change to a large extent and practised and preserved Dogra culture in such a way that it can be called the repository of Dogra culture.In Udhampur, folk dances such as Kud, Geetrus etc. are still in vogue in many regions, especially in the hilly areas. We have famous folk dancers in Udhampur for performing the folkdance called Kud.They have popularised this dance in our state as well as at national and international level.Similarly,some talented and devoted artists of Ramnagar are doing a yeoman’service to preserve Dogra culture by presenting geetrus on various social and religious occasions.They also perform on national and other days in and outside Udhampur.
Traditional sports and games, which were an important part of our culture,too are given prominence in Udhampur.In Udhampur. We have traditional games such as wrestling, kabaddi., santolia, etc. which are highly popular in Udhampur. Indian style wrestling matches (Dangal) are organised on the eve of various fairs and melas such as Baisakhi fair, Moungri Mela, Shankri Mela and other occasions across Udhampur district. Thousands of people attend these competitions and applaud the wrestlers who converge from across the country to take part in these matches. The traditional marriage rituals, which are fast vanishing from the Dogra marriages, are still alive in many parts of Udhampur district, especially in remote and farflung areas. We have traditional marriage rituals such as Jagranas and marriage songs called ‘Suhaags’ and ‘Kourians’ and many other such rituals well practised in Udhampur than, perhaps in any other region of the State. Dogras are primarily religious people, who have profound belief in deities, saints and the people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of justice. They are eulogised by Dogras and their history and sacrifices are praised and sung in the form of Kaarkans, Baaraans, Bhaakhans etc.Jaatars are organised at the abode of Kuldevtas to make sacrifices, instal Kuldevtas or celebrate the birth of child or marriage of son.Kaarkans and Jaatar are well preserved and practised in Udhampur than perhaps in other regions of the state.Melas and fairs having economic, religious and social significance are an important part of Dogra culture.Various melas and fairs are held in Udhampur to add colour and vibrancy to the monotonous life. We have Moungri Mela, Sankri Mela, Gole Mela and Baisakhi Mela at Udhampur, Barmeen, Ramnagar. Then a grand three day Mela is organised at the pictursque spot of Sudhmahadev on the eve of full moon day of Saavan in June/July every year.In Ramnagar, melas are held at Dalsar, Gandhtop, Shivgali, Guraang etc.on various occasion. Various shrines and temples such as ISKCON temple, Pingla Mata, Marhara Mata, Vasuki Mandirs, Sharda Mata etc. are visited by people in large numbers on important religious days to seek blessings of various Deities.
Dress is also an integral part of the culture of a region. So far the Dogra dress is concerned, a good no of people practise Dogra dress, according to the climatic conditions, especially in hilly areas.Dogras wear simple dress such as ghuttanas, suthan, having many folds.They used to wear ghuttanas and long overcoat with a traditional turban called ‘safa’ . Women used to wear ‘Suthans’ having many folds or pleats. Many elderly people, especially in the upper reaches of Udhampur still wear this dress. Udhampur is, in fact,the land of true colours of Dogra culture and ethos consisting of various mores, beliefs, folklores etc.People in Udhampur are deeply connected to their culture. They celebrate traditional festivals such as Baisakhi, Lohiri, Rakshabandan, Minjaraan rade, Dhrubri, Ohoi Ashtami, Nag Panchami, Shivratri, Janamashtmi etc with great enthusiasm and religious fervour. People of Udhampur have strong belief in folk lores such as geetrus, gasaitan, gagail,masadde, etc.which reflect our varied culture and belief.They adhere to their traditions and beliefs and participate in these folklores wholeheartedly in large number.
Food is an important part of the culture of a region.Dogra food is another aspect of Dogra culture,which bear testimony to the people’s liking for this food.Traditional foods such as Madra, Kiur, Tarad, Katriar, Desi ghee, Matha, Maani Sakaran, Suchian, Chile etc are savoured and appreciated in Udhampur and in many rural areas. Food prepared in ‘daans’over wooden fuel on the eve of marriages, mundans, bhandaras and other occasions,is still practised in rural areas and cherished by one and all. Traditional food such as ‘Makki ka Toda’ and Sarson ka Saag’ is cherished and the cakes from the maize flour are prepared from the traditional water mills called gharats in many regions. There is a large number of ghrats on the banks of rivers and streams in Udhampur even in this age of fast life and technology. Dogra jewellery is much in vogue in many rural areas of Udhampur. Since times immemorial, Dogras have believed in serving the parents and elders with due respect and reverence and for this purpose, joint family system came into existence.
This joint family system is still in vogue in many parts of Udhampur district, which ensures that elders are looked after properly and the youngers are treated with love and affection to ensure their holistic development and growth. Thus, the Udhampur district is serving as an oasis of Dogra culture in the whole state but the young generation is not taking much interest in conservation and transmission of our rich culture.
Thus there is need to take steps to promote Dogra culture.For this purpose, it is imperative that folk dances, folksongs, folklores etc are prominently sung and displayed on religious and social occasions. Dogri songs and Dogra artists should be encouraged at block, tehsil, district and provincial level on eve of cultural programmes related to National Days. Programmes based on Dogra culture, on the pattern of ‘Display Your Talent’ need to be organised at school level. There is also a need to launch ‘Duggar Channel’ which should be exclusively devoted to telecasting programmes related to Dogra culture , which can help a lot in promotion and preservation of this rich culture in Duggar region.
(The writer is serving as Lecturer in English in Govt.Hr.Sec.School (Boys) Udhampur)
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