Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 16: J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) in collaboration with Duggar Sanskriti Sangam, Batehra today showcased the most spectacular folk form known as ‘Raahde’.
This is a month long activity which commenced today in the premises of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Jammu.
The festival starts on 1st Ashaad and culminates on 1st of Sharwan every year. The women especially young and newly wedded girls sow Kharif seeds of different varieties in the terracotta of pitcher necks of different sizes in the courtyard of their house or on the rooftop.
They also decorate these ‘Raahde’ with natural dry colours made of soft stones of different colour, charcoal, green leaves, red and yellow flowers. On the 1st of Shawna the festival culminated with big celebrations called as Badda Rutt on the banks of water bodies where the women gathered, sing folk songs related with the festival and have feast together.
Earlier welcoming the gathering of students and parents, Dr Arvinder Singh Amn, highlighted the importance of the cultural values to the new generation. He further said that the programme has been organized to make aware the youth about their rich cultural heritage.
On the occasion, Dr Dhain Singh, an Icon of Dogri literature and is considered to be a main source of keeping this festival alive, delivered a detailed and an informative lecture about the Raahde.
Laj Wanti, Manisha Devi, Shamo Devi, Veena Devi, Toshi Davi, Raj Rani and Kuchho Devi presented melodious folk song related with the festival and also sowed seeds. .
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