Srinagar—In a historic event, 10,000 women from Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir made history by performing the largest-ever Kashmiri folk dance during the ‘Kashur Riwaaj’ cultural festival on Saturday. This achievement was confirmed by the Union Territory administration.
The festival, organized by the Dagger Division of the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps in partnership with the Baramulla District Administration and the Indrani Balan Foundation, was part of the lead-up to the 78th Independence Day celebrations. It took place at Showkat Ali Indoor Stadium and aimed to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Kashmir through traditional dances, music, calligraphy, and other cultural activities.
The main highlight was the collective performance of the ‘Rouf,’ a traditional Kashmiri dance, by the group of women. This remarkable feat set a new world record, as confirmed by the Universal Records Forum (URF), an organization recognized for adhering to rigorous record verification standards.
“We have been rehearsing for almost a month. Now we feel all the effort was worth it. This is a great achievement, and we are proud to be part of the world record,” said one of the participants, expressing the collective pride of the women involved.
The event was made possible by the coordinated efforts of the Baramulla District Administration, under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa. The chief guest at the event was Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, Corps Commander of the Chinar Corps.
The Indrani Balan Foundation, led by Punit and Janhavi Balan, played a significant role in supporting the festival. The Foundation has been actively involved in various development and cultural activities in Baramulla.
“This is a shining example of constructive engagement and cooperation between Civil-Military-Industry and the Youth,” said an official from the Indrani Balan Foundation.
In addition to the record-breaking dance, the festival also featured performances by prominent local artists. Among them was 13-year-old musical prodigy Ishfaq Hamid Bhatt, who showcased his exceptional skills on the Rubab, a traditional string instrument. Ishfaq, who has been awarded the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar 2024, is known for his dedication to preserving Kashmiri musical traditions.
Celebrated Santoor player Naseer Ahmed Mir also performed at the festival. Mir, who was awarded a gold medal by the President of India during the 2021 convocation at Kashmir University, is recognized for his outstanding contribution to the art of Santoor playing.
The success of the ‘Kashur Riwaaj’ cultural festival has set a new benchmark for future cultural engagements in the region, uniting the youth of Kashmir in a vibrant display of tradition and patriotism.
