Dogra
Encyclopedia
The Dogras are an Indo-Aryan
Indo-Aryans
Indo-Aryan is an ethno-linguistic term referring to the wide collection of peoples united as native speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian family of Indo-European languages...

 ethnic group in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...

. Being a diversified group, the Dogras include both Savarna
Savarna
Savarna are considered part of the Hindu Varna system. Communities which belong to one of the four varnas i. e. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra are called "Savarna". In the present-day context, they include all the forward castes and Other backward communities...

s such as Brahmins, Rajputs and Non-savarnas. The Dogras also incluide merchant castes (Vaishyas) such as Mahajans. Rajput Dogras are believed to be Suryavanshi Rajputs of Chattari origin, migrating many centuries ago from Rajputana
Rajputana
Rājputāna was the pre-1949 name of the present-day Indian state of Rājasthān, the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. George Thomas was the first in 1800 A.D., to term this region as Rajputana...

 (now called Rajasthan) to the hilly areas of Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...

 and lower altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh (Kangra, Mandi, Bilaspur and Hamirpur). They live predominantly in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...

 but also in adjoining areas of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...

, and northeastern Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. They speak their own language, Dogri, which was recognized as one of the national languages of India
Languages of India
The languages of India belong to several language families, the major ones being the Indo-European languages—Indo-Aryan and the Dravidian languages...

 in 2003. Most Dogras are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

s, but some are Muslims
Islam
Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

 and Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...

s.

The Jammu region

The Jammu region, which is one of the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir state (the other two being the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...

), is bounded on the north by the Pir Panjal Range of the middle Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...

, in the south by Punjab, to the east by Ladakh and close to the west in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

. The lower Himalayan ranges begin behind the town of Jammu, which rests on a slope of over 1300 feet above sea level, overlooking and commanding the plain watered by the Chenab, Ravi
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....

, Tawi
Tawi River
The Tawi is a river that flows through the city of Jammu. Tawi river is also considered sacred and holy, as is generally the case with most rivers in India....

 and Ujh rivers. The Jammu region consists of ten districts: Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...

, Kathua
Kathua
Kathua is the largest city of the Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the third largest city in the Jammu region and the sixth largest in the state. The word "Kathua" is derived from the word "Thuan" in Dogri which means "Scorpios". The city was the land of Scorpios before the settling of...

, Udhampur
Udhampur
Udhampur is a city and a municipal council in Udhampur District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the second lardest city of Duggardesh region and the fourth largest city in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It serves as the district capital and the Northern Command headquarter of the...

, Doda
Doda
Doda is a town and a notified area committee in Doda district in Jammu & Kashmir of India.-Geography:Doda is located at . It has an average elevation of 1107 metres .-Demographics:...

, Poonch
Poonch
Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahābhārata evidence, and the evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas...

, Kishtwar
Kishtwar
Kishtwar is a town and a notified area committee in Kishtwar District in Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of India.-Geography:Kishtwar is located at...

, Reasi
Reasi
Reasi is a town and a notified area committee, tehsil and now a district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated at the bank of River Chenab. Reasi derived its name from its old name "RASYAL".Rasyal is a caste belongs to Rajput Category. In the eighth century Reasi was called...

, Samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...

, Ramban
Ramban
Ramban, RaMBaN can refer to:* Nahmanides , Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman, Catalan rabbi, philosopher, physician, Kabbalist and biblical commentator* Ramban Synagogue in East Jerusalem* Cave of the Ramban in East Jerusalem...

 and Rajouri. The city of Jammu is the winter capital of the state of J&K.

The Jammu Dogras traditionally more inhabited the area between the slopes of Shivalik range of mountains, the sacred lakes of Saroien sar and Mannsar but they spread over whole of Jammu region. They generally speak the Dogri and other dialects too have similarity with Dogri. Majority are followers of Hinduism but a good number in J&K of Dogra believes in other religions also. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, some Dogras embraced Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...

 and some embraced Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

; these factors, together with the effects of immigration into the region, have resulted in the J&K “Dogra” population including members of all three religions. The Duggar Raj emerged as a Regional domain, more particularly with Maharaja Gulab Singh emerging as a warrior and the subjects of in his domain getting special martial recognision by the British Government/ Empire. The rule of Gulab Singh extended over whole of Jammu Region and large part of Ladakh region even by March 1846 and was more known as Dogra Raj (although a large part of Punjab (now Himachal Pardesh) too was traditionally known as Dogra clan / race irrespective of the religious faith one held); and it was in March 1846 that the Kashmir Valley was also handed over to Gulab Singh by British Government (being part of the territories ceded to the British Government by the Lahore State according to the provisions of Article IV of the treaty of Lahore, dated 9 March 1846) under Treaty of Amritsar , the Dogra king of Jammu and the State was thereafter known as the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir State (Raj), also referred as Kashmir State thereafter. The term Dogra hence is more akin to the subjects of Himachal Pradesh, some areas of Punjab and whole region of Jammu of J&K State that was ruled by Raja Gulab Singh as part of Dogra Raj irrespective of the religion one practised.

Cultural profile of Dogras

  • Kud – It is basically a ritual dance performed in honour of Lok Devatas. This dance style is performed mostly during nights. It is spontaneous dance and people of all ages and sexes participate in this folk dance form. Instruments used during this dance are Narshingha, chhaina, flute, drums etc. It is the rhythm of music which controls the movement of participants. This dance continues for the whole night. Number of participants ranges from 20 to 30 members.
  • Heren – It is a traditional theatre form performed during Lohri festival by 10–15 members. This style is mostly performed in hilly regions of Jammu.
  • Fumenie and Jagarana – This dance style is performed by the ladies on the eve of groom's departure to in-laws house. Both the songs are sung by a group of females consisting of 15–20 members. This traditional dance form depicts the feelings and emotions of women folk.
  • Bakh/Gwatri/Kark/Masade – It is a chorus narrative singing sung by a group of 10 singers without the accompaniment of any musical instruments.
  • Gwatri – A singing–dance combined tradition in which the singers narrate some text which is enacted by the Gwatari dancers.
  • Karak – A tale ballet singing form sung by a community called 'Jogies'. They narrate a popular folk tale in their dance style, performed by three members with accompaniment of a typical folk instrument called 'Rabab'.
  • Benthe – This is chorus singing tradition performed specific community of tribal called Gujjar and Bakerwal. Dance is performed by 5–7 members.

Etymology of Jammu and Dogra

The origins of the name "Jammu" are shrouded in mystery, as is the history of the people inhabiting the territory, popularly known as Duggar, but the towns of the region with their fortresses stand testimony to a distinct cultural and linguistic identity. Some try to trace the origin of the name to the word jambudvipa
Jambudvipa
Jambudvīpa is the dvipa of the terrestrial world, as envisioned in the cosmologies of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, which is the realm where ordinary human beings live...

, a combination of the words Jambu and dwipa (island). According to Sir Walter Hamilton (Description of Hindustan, pg. 499), "It is possible that an ocean may at one time have reached the base of these mountains forming high table lands into islands." The famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...

 describes the valley of Pamir
Pamir
Pamir may refer to:* a pamir, a U-shaped grassy valley in the Pamir Mountains**Great Pamir, a high valley in the Wakhan on the border of Afghanistan and Tajikistan**Little Pamir, a high valley in the Wakhan, Afghanistan...

 as "the centre of Jambudwipa." Some attribute the name to Jambavantha
Jambavantha
Jambavan also known as Jamvanta, Jambavantha, Jambavat, or Jambuvan the King of the Bears, is a sloth bear in Indian epic tradition , immortal to all but his father Vishnu. In the Valmiki Ramayana however, he is described as being a Vanara or monkey...

 or Jamwant, the Riksharaja (the king of the bears in the army of King Sugriva
Sugriva
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Sugriva , also spelled Sugreeva or Sugreev, was the younger brother of Bali, whom he succeeded as ruler of the vanara or monkey kingdom Kishkindha. Ruma was his wife. He was the son of Surya, the Hindu deity of the sun...

 in the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...

), who is said to have meditated in the Peer Kho Cave on the banks of the Tawi River
Tawi River
The Tawi is a river that flows through the city of Jammu. Tawi river is also considered sacred and holy, as is generally the case with most rivers in India....

. Another popular belief is that Jammu owes its name to Raja Jambulochan, and the city remains significant since the 14th century BC
14th century BC
The 14th century BC is a century which lasted from the year 1400 BC until 1301 BC.-Events:* 1397 BC: Pandion I, legendary King of Athens, dies after a reign of 40 years and is succeeded by his son Erechtheus II of Athens....

. According to the Imperial Gazetteer of India the origin of the word "Dogra" is said to have arisen from the fact that the cradle of the Dogra people lies between the two lakes of Sruinsar and Mansar. Dwigart Desh (meaning country of two hollows) was converted into Duggar and Dugra, which then became Dogra.

Dogra clans

Here is a list of Dogra kings clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...

s:
  • Ambarai
  • Andotra
    Andotra
    The Andotra are Rajput clan found in the at state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.They were the Landlords or the Zamindars. They owned the lands and also farmed upon them...

  • Badyal
  • Baghal
  • Bajial
  • Bajju
  • Balhotra
  • Balotra
  • Balwal
  • Bamalia(Brahmins)
  • Banhoria
  • Bandral
  • Bargotra
  • Baru
  • Bhadarwah
  • Bhadwal
  • Bhao
    Bhao
    The Bhao or sometime pronounced Bahu are a Rajput clan, found in Punjab, Pakistan as well as both Indian administered Jammu & Kashmir as well as Azad Kashmir.- History & Origins :...

  • Bhulwal
  • Beotra
  • Bilauria
  • Bucha
  • Chambyal
  • Changotra
  • Charak
  • Chargotra
  • Chattar
  • Chib
    Chib
    The Chib Rajput , is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan found in the northern parts of India and Pakistan. They are mostly a Kashmiri or Punjabi tribe found in both India and Pakistan...

  • Darora
  • Deonia
  • Ganotra
  • Goleria
  • Guleria
  • Hans
  • Hantal
  • Jaggi
  • Jaj
  • Jalotra
  • Jamwal
    Jamwal
    Jamwal is a suryavanshi Rajput clan of Chattari lineage in Jammu and Kashmir that claims solar origin by direct descent from Sri Rama Chandra of Raghav Rajput clan. Jamwal traditions state that their ancestor, Raja Agnigarba, came from Ayodhya and founded a small state on the banks of River Tawi...

  • Jandial
  • Jardayal
  • Jarral
  • Jasrotia
  • Jaswal
    Jaswal
    Jaswal is a Chandravanshi Rajput clan found predominantly in Northern India.The etymological origins of the word Jaswal can be traced back to the Kingdom of Jaswan that was founded around 1170 CE in present day Himachal Pradesh....

  • Kahlotra
    Kahlotra
    The Kahlotra Rajput are a Suryavanshi Rajput tribe. They are a sub clan of the Manhas Rajput tribe.-History:Kahlotra Rajput tribe was a very influential tribe in Naushera and Rajauri tehsils of Riasi District till 1947....

  • Kalerie
  • Katil
    Katil
    The Katil are a Rajput clan, found in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.- History and origin :The clan claims descent from Raja Karet, driven from the plains of Punjab by Mahmud of Ghazna, settled in Mangla Devi, a fort in Jammu...

  • Katoch
    Katoch
    Katoch is the name of a Rajput clan belonging to the Chandervanshi kshatriya lineage. Their traditional areas of residence was Trigarta Kingdom, Jalandhar, Multan i.e...

  • Khadotra
  • Khajuria
  • Kharakhatr
  • Kishtwaria
    Kishtwaria
    The Kisthwaria are a Muslim Rajputs clan, found in Kishtwar District, in the Jammu and Kashmir territory. They are clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs, who form part of the Jasrotia tribe...

  • Kullu
  • Lalotra
    Lalotra
    The Lalotra are a Rajput clan found mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. They claim to be Suryavanshi Rajput, descendants of Rama. The Lalotras were also found in Sialkot District, and these Lalotras immigrated to India at the time of the Partition of India. They...

  • Langeh
    Langeh
    The Langeh are a Rajput tribe found mainly in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and the submontaine district of Punjab in India. They are also found in Narowal, Sialkot and Gujrat districts of Pakistani Punjab...

  • Magotra
  • Mandial
  • Manhas
  • Manjotra
  • Mankotia
    Mankotia
    The Mankotia are a Rajput clan found mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. They get their name from the state of Mankot in what is now Jammu and Kashmir. The Mankotia are said to be a clan of Jamwal Dogras, although both these clan are now distinct. While other...

  • Nagyal
    Nagyal
    Nagyal, sometimes pronounced as Nangyal and also written as Nagial are a Rajput-Jat tribe found mainly in Rawalpindi District, Gujar Khan, Daultala, Jhelum and Gujrat Districts of Punjab, Mirpur District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir...

  • Padha
  • Pandotra
  • Panotra
  • Pargal
  • Proach
  • Pathania
    Pathania
    Pathania is the name of the branch of the Tomara Clan of Chandravanshi, Rajputs, descended from Lord Arjuna, the hero of Mahabharata. It is one of the ruling Rajput clans of India. They mostly live in and around Himachal Pradesh, in North India...

  • Patiyal
    Patial
    Patial is a suryavanshi Rajput clan of Chattari lineage in North India that claims solar origin by direct descent from Sri Rama Chandra of Raghav Rajput clan. Their traditional areas of residence are Rajputana, Trigarta Kingdom , i.e...

  • Phagotra
  • Rachyal
  • Rakwal
    Rakwal
    The Rakwal are a Rajput clan found mainly in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. They claim to be Suryavanshi Rajput, descendants of Rama. Their immediate ancestor was Raja Abta Deo of Jammu, who founded a principality in Sialkot. They are a Dogra sub-group, and their...

  • Ranoat
  • Rarotra
  • Rawalay
  • Sabbai
  • Sadathia
  • Sagana
  • Salathia
  • Sambyal
  • Samnotra
  • Samsal
  • Sangotra
  • Sanotra
  • Sarmorie
  • Suketia
  • Sulehria
    Sulehria
    The Suleria are a clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs. The Sikh and Hindu Sulehria live in India. The Muslim Sulehria are considered a clan of Muslim Rajputs and nearly all live in Pakistan...

  • Sumbria
  • Suri
  • Tagotra
  • Tagotras
  • Sarnaliya
  • Banhotra

The Royal House of Jammu and Kashmir

The chronology of the rulers of Jammu dates back to the Ramayana Period. Indeed, they traced their ancestry to the Ikshvaku
Ikshvaku
Ikshvaku pāli: Okkāka) was the first king of the Ikshvaku dynasty and founder of the Solar Dynasty of Kshatriyas in Vedic civilization in ancient India.-In Hinduism:He is remembered in Hindu scriptures as a righteous and glorious king...

 (Solar) Dynasty of Northern India (The same clan in which Lord Rama was born. He, therefore is the 'kuldevta' (family deity) of the Dogras). A Raghuvanshi
Raghuvanshi
The Raghuvanshi was an Indian dynasty. Raghuvanshi is believed to be a lineage of kings tracing its ancestry to Surya. Raghuvanshi kings like Mandhata, Harishchandra, Sagar, Bhagirath, Dilipa, Raghu, Aja, Dasaratha and Rama....

 descendant, 'Agnigarba' who was living as a recluse, came to Nagarkote (Kangra, Himachal Pradesh), in the Shivalik hills. When the Raja of Kangra came to know about this person's ancestry, he offered him the hand of his daughter and a part of kingdom. The river Ravi was then the boundary of Nagarkote. Agnigarba crossed it and captured some villages in the Kathua
Kathua
Kathua is the largest city of the Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the third largest city in the Jammu region and the sixth largest in the state. The word "Kathua" is derived from the word "Thuan" in Dogri which means "Scorpios". The city was the land of Scorpios before the settling of...

 area and declared himself as sovereign king. After his death, his son Bayusharva (B.C. 1530-1500) married the princess of Parole (Kathua). The princess was known as Erwan and she died young. The Raja founded a city after her which is still found near Parole, though now a small village and at the 'Samadhi' of the queen, a `Mela' (fair) is held at every `Baisakhi' (13th or 14 April) every year. Bayusharva extended the boundaries up to the river Ujh. Bayusharva's great grandson, Bahulochan was enthroned after his death. He migrated from Erwan and built his fort on the banks of river Tawi. Bahulochan died in a bloody battle with Chadaras, Raja of Sialkot (Shayalkot) and his younger brother Jambulochan (B.C 1320-1290) ascended the throne. In those days the area beyond Tawi (the present city of Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...

) was used for hunting. Tradition has it that one day Jambulochan came to this area and while he was sitting behind a bush to ambush some bird or animal, he saw a lion (a tiger in some accounts) and a goat drinking water from the same pond. This peaceful coexistence encouraged him to found the city of Jammu, which some say is named after him. One of his descendants, Raja Shaktikaran (B.C 1200-1177) introduced the Dogri Script for the first time. Another of his descendants, Jasdev founded the city of Jasrota on the bank of river Ujh, and another Raja, Karan Dev built a fort on the banks of the river Basantar. In the early centuries of the first millennium the area came under the sway of the Indo-Greeks, with their capital at Sakala
Sakala
Sakala may refer to:* Sagala, a city of ancient India* Sakala County, an ancient county in Estonia * Sakala , an Estonian academic corporation* Sakala , an Estonian newspaper...

 (Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...

).

Among the enlightened rulers of Jammu was Raja Ranjit Dev, (1728–1780) who introduced certain social reforms such as a ban on 'Sati' (immolation of the wife on the pyre of the husband) and female infanticide. Later, under Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...

, the state became part of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab after it was captured from its Afghan rulers. Ranjit Singh rendered this state to his general, Maharaja Gulab Singh Jamwal, who belonged to the Jamwal Rajput clan that ruled Jammu. He extended the boundaries of Jammu to western Tibet with the help of General Zorawar Singh. The Sikh Empire rule extended beyond the Jammu Region and the Kashmir Valley to the Tibetan Buddhist Kingdom of Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...

 and the Emirates of Hunza, Gilgit
Gilgit Agency
The Gilgit Agency was a political unit of British India, which administered the northern half of the Princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Gilgit Agency was created in 1877 and was overseen by a political agent of the Governor-General of British India. The seat of the agent was Srinagar...

 and Nagar
State of Nagar
Nagar was a princely state in the northernmost part of Gilgit-Baltistan in northern Pakistan, which existed until 1974. The state bordered the Gilgit Agency to the south and west, and the former princely state of Hunza to the north and east. The state capital was the town of Nagar. The area of...

. After the First Anglo-Sikh War
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom.-Background and causes of the war:...

 in 1846, the British gave Kashmir and the title of 'Maharaja' to Gulab Singh - the chief minister - as a reward for his treachery against the Sikhs. Pratap Singh, (enthroned in 1885) in saw the construction of Banihal Cart Road (B.C. Road) mainly to facilitate telegraph services. The last ruler of J&K was Maharaja Hari Singh
Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...

, who ascended the throne in 1925. He made primary education compulsory in the State, introduced laws prohibiting child marriage and threw open places of worship for the low castes. His reign saw the accession of Jammu & Kashmir to the newly independent Indian Union in 1947. Although he originally manoeuvered to maintain his independence by playing off India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

 against each other, Maharaja Hari Singh
Hari Singh
Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...

, the last king of the Rajput Kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir ceded his kingdom to the Indian Union in 1947, after Pakistan's founder and Governor-General Mohammad Ali Jinnah, frustrated by his failure to merge his kingdom into Pakistan, incited armed Pashtuns from the neighbouring North-West Frontier Province
North-West Frontier Province
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province and various other names, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the north-west of the country...

 to invade the kingdom in an attempt to seize it. This invasion by Pakistani tribals and the consequent accession to India sparked the First Indo-Pakistan War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...

. In 1951 Maharaja Hari Singh's rule was terminated by the assembly and his son Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh
Karan Singh
Karan Singh is an MP in the Rajya Sabha, a senior member of the ruling Indian National Congress Party serving as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations , India's Ambassador to UNESCO, Chairman of the Auroville Foundation and of the Temple...

 was made 'Sadr-e-Riyasat' ('President of the Province') and Governor of the State in 1964.

Dogra Culture

The Dogra culture is descended from that of the Indo-Aryans
Indo-Aryans
Indo-Aryan is an ethno-linguistic term referring to the wide collection of peoples united as native speakers of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-Iranian family of Indo-European languages...

 who settled in and became the main population of India. Dogras are divided into castes on the same lines as Hindus in other parts of India, but have local variations.

Religion, Art, literature and music

Religion: The region of Jammu and Kashmir is most holy and sacred for Hindu people as it has many famous temples.
  • Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine: This is the most pious and famous of Hindu religious places. Situated atop Shivalik Mountains, it is around 16 km uphill walk through steep mountain peaks. Situated inside a cave is the Sanctum Sanctorum Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, incarnation of Mata Parvati; the supreme of all powerful Goddess.

  • Amarnath Cave: Situated at a significant distance from Pahalgam, through rocky mountains and treacherous passes, lies the Sanctum Sanctorum Shrine of Lord Shiva (The Creator, Preserver and Destroyer) of all Living and non-living objects/things. During the Month of March/April, around Raksha Bandhan time, one can witness the miraculous formation of Shiv Linga at Amarnath Temple.

  • Raghunath Temple
    Raghunath Temple
    Raghunath Temple, with seven shrines each with its own Sikhara, is one of the largest temple complex of north India, located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir....

    :
    Situated at Raghnuath Bazaar (Jammu), one can witness master-pieces of Hindu Temple building architecture. Dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple was constructed by the Dogra Kings of Jammu region.


The earliest paintings in Pahari style originated in Basohli. The first mention of Basohli paintings is in the annual report of the Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture . The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament...

 for the year 1918-1919 published in 1921. Subsequently, this style spread to the Hill States of Mankot, Nurpur, Kulu, Mandi, Suket, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, Chamba, Guler and Kangra.

It was in 1675, when Pahari School came into being. According to Karl Khandalwala, Raja Kripal Pal of Basholi was first to patronize artists regularly. Raja Sansar Chand, Raja Balwant Singh and other Pahari rulers, further nurtured generations of proficient artists in their courts.

Dogri folk literature comprises:
  • Prose forms short stories, proverbs and riddles.
  • Verse from classified as under:
    • Ballads:
  1. Baran
  2. Kaarkan
  3. Love ballads
  4. Devotional
  5. Ones involving of women saints.
    • Lyrics:- They are vast and varied and difficult to mention e.g. love lyrics, ceremonial lyrics, dance lyrics etc.


Dogri folk songs too range from love to heroism and sacrifice. Ceremonial lyrics give analysis of human reaction to ceremonies. 'Biayian' are sung to celebrate the birth of male child, indicating gender bias. Family lyrics pertain to household members such as mother, father, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law and their relationships.

Marriage among Dogras

Some Dogra still follow type of marriage which is called 'Dohry' (Double) - take a daughter and give them your daughter. 'Gotra' and `Kula' exogamy is maintained. 'Chadar pana', or marrying the brothers widow is also found in Jammu. Child marriage was common too (Girls 10–14 years, and Boys 15–18 years) but Maharaja Hari Singh banned this in 1940 and raised the age of marriage for girls to 16 years and boys to 18 years. In the hilly areas of Udhampur, Kathua and Doda people also take concubines termed as 'Duals'.

Dogra Cuisine

Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...

, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...

 and bajra
Pearl millet
Pearl millet is the most widely grown type of millet. Grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since prehistoric times, it is generally accepted that pearl millet originated in Africa and was subsequently introduced into India. The center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication, for...

 are staple food besides rice, cereals and a tangier preparation made out of either mango or tamarind also popularly known as maani, the whole dish is called Dal Puth Maani and is savoured together as a combination. Mitha Madra is a favourite and is cooked from milk, dry fruits and semolina. Preparations of Rajmash (a special variety of red kidney beans), auria a dish of curd fermented by rye; ambal made from pumpkin, jaggery and tamarind are favourites, especially during ceremonial cooking. The expert cooks are called Siyans, usually Brahmins.

Non-vegetarian food was limited to Rajputs and Vaish (Mahajans). 'Khatta Meat' - mutton cooked with sour pomegranate seeds or lime juice and flavoured with fumes of a burning charcoal soaked in mustard oil. Keur is one of the famous food of Dogras. It is prepared by flour and butter and served with sugar and curd. Mostly, it is served to bridegroom at the time of marriage by the in-laws. Kalaari is also one of the favourite food of Dogras in the rainy season. It is prepared by flour mix, cottage cheese and milk cream (malai) with water with help of a small cup shaped pot. Kalari is served with milk. Kalari cheese
Kalari cheese
Kalari or Maish Krej is a traditional ripened cheese product indigenous to Jammu and Kashmir state of India. It is a very dense cheese that is usually fried in its own fat and salted prior to being eaten. Kalaris are usually made from cow's milk, though kalaris made from goat's milk are also...

 is also popular in the Jammu region and in Jammu and Kashmir state more generally. Babbru/Pathoru are preparerd by flour and fried in mustard oil. Babbru is served with maani/potato/kheer/curd.

Kheer
Kheer
Kheer also known as Payasam or Payesh is a rice pudding, which is a traditional South Asian sweet dish...

 is a dish prepared from milk by adding some rice and dryfruit in it. It is one of the famous food of Dogras and served in almost all special occasions and festivals. Another popular exotic dish is Guchiyyan (dried mushroom - black morel
Morel
Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushrooms closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them....

), usually added as an ingredient in pulao as it grows naturally in forests and cannot be cultivated; it is a priced commodity (approx 500 Rs. per 100 gms.) and makes an excelled dish with mountain potatoes (Pahadi Aloo). Saffron
Saffron
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...

 or Kesar is extensively used to flavour sweet dishes and for its anti-oxidant benefits.

The martial tradition of the Dogras

The Dogras are known for their valour. The Dogra Regiment
Dogra Regiment
The Dogra Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, formerly the 17th Dogra Regiment when part of the British Indian Army.- Formation:The regiment has the Dogra people from the Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and the hill regions of Punjab...

 was among the regiments of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...

, which made significant contributions in both the world wars on all fronts from the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...

 to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...

. At Independence, it became an infantry regiment of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...

 composed largely but not exclusively of the Dogra people. The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, another regiment of the Indian Army, consisting of mainly Dogras was formed out of the former army of the Kingdom of Jammu & Kashmir after it was absorbed into the Indian Army.

Notable Dogras

  • Maharaja Gulab Singh
    Maharaja Gulab Singh
    Maharaja Gulab Singh was the founder and first Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, the second largest princely state in British India...

    , general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and later Maharaja of the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir
  • General Zorawar Singh
    General Zorawar Singh
    Zorawar Singh Kahluria was born in a village of Kahlur State in modern Himachal Pradesh, India....

    , general of Maharaja Gulab Singh
  • Hari Singh
    Hari Singh
    Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...

     (1895–1961), last ruling Maharaja
    Maharaja
    Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...

     of the princely state
    Princely state
    A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...

     / Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir
    Jammu and Kashmir
    Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...

     in India
    India
    India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

     and father Karan Singh
  • Karan Singh
    Karan Singh
    Karan Singh is an MP in the Rajya Sabha, a senior member of the ruling Indian National Congress Party serving as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department, President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations , India's Ambassador to UNESCO, Chairman of the Auroville Foundation and of the Temple...

    , son of Hari Singh
    Hari Singh
    Maharaja Hari Singh was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.He was married four times...

     and distinguished diplomat
  • Som Nath Sharma
    Som Nath Sharma
    Major Som Nath Sharma was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, the highest Indian gallantry award. He was awarded the medal posthumously for his bravery in the Kashmir operations in November 1947. He died while evicting Pakistani infiltrators and raiders from Srinagar Airport during the...

     First recipient of the Param Vir Chakra
  • Shivkumar Sharma
    Shivkumar Sharma
    Shivkumar Sharma is an Indian santoor player. The santoor is a folk instrument from Kashmir and Jammu. Sharma is often referred to by the title Pandit.-Early life:...

     Renowned Santoor player
  • Shesh Paul Vaid
    Shesh Paul Vaid
    Shesh Paul Vaid , also known as S. P. Vaid, is the current Additional Director General of Police , Headquarters in Jammu & Kashmir.-Early life:...

    , IPS, Additional Director General of Police
    Additional Director General of Police
    In India the additional director general of police is a 3 star rank, the high ranking police officer in Indian States & Union Territories. All ADGPs are Indian Police Service officers and are in above super time scale grade...

     (ADGP) in Jammu & Kashmir
  • Ustad Alla Rakha, Padma Shri Tabla player
  • Prem Nath Dogra
    Prem Nath Dogra
    Prem Nath Dogra was a leader from Jammu and Kashmir who worked for total integration of the state with India . He formed Praja Parishad party in 1947 along with Balraj Madhok and opposed policies of Shaikh Abdullah . He died in 1971. He was elected to the legislative Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir...

  • Kundan Lal Saigal
    Kundan Lal Saigal
    Kundan Lal Saigal was an Indian singer and actor who is considered the first superstar of the Hindi film industry, which was centered in Calcutta during Saigal's time, but is currently centered in Mumbai.-Early life:Saigal was born at Jammu where his father Amar Chand was a tehsildar at the...

    , Hindi movie singer and actor
  • Bansi Lal Sharma
    Bansi Lal Sharma
    Bansi Lal Sharma was a geoscientist from Jammu, India, who was a member of the 9th Indian expedition to Antarctica. He died in January 1990 and was posthumously awarded the distinguished national mineral award in 1991....

    , a Geo-Scientist from Jammu who was a member of the 9th Indian Expedition to Antarctica
  • Om Prakash
    Om Prakash
    Om Prakash was an Indian character actor. He was born in Jammu as Om Prakash Chibber. He used to play the role of Kamla in the stage play by the famous Dewan Mandir Natak Samaj Koliwada. Starting his career in 1942, he was a popular supporting actor from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was one of...

    , Veteran Bollywood Actor
  • Mukesh Rishi
    Mukesh Rishi
    Mukesh Rishi is an Indian film actor who works in Bollywood and Tollywood and Canada. Coming from a brahmin family in Jammu, Mukesh was the first person in his family to try his luck in the world of cinema...

    , Bollywood Actor
  • Adarsh Sein Anand Padma Vibhushan and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
  • Malika Pukhraj
    Malika Pukhraj
    Malika Pukhraj was a highly popular singer of Pakistan. She was generally called as "Malika" meaning "The Queen." She is extremely popular for her rendition of Hafeez Jalandhri's song, Abhi to main jawan hoon , which is enjoyed by millions not only in Pakistan, but also in India...

     Renowned singer
  • Premchand Dogra
    Premchand Dogra
    Premchand Degra is an IFBB professional bodybuilder from India. Also mentioned as Premchand Degra/Dhingra. He won the Mr. Universe title in the short-height 80 kg category in 1988. He was also awarded the "Achievement Medal" by the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness in...

     Padma Shri and Arjuna Award winning Body builder
  • Paras Dogra
    Paras Dogra
    Paras Dogra is an Indian Cricketer. Dogra made his debut in first-class cricket in 2001. He is a defensive right-handed batsman and a right-arm legbreak bowler . He was signed by the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League...

     Cricketer - Plays for Rajasthan Royals in IPL
  • Ajay Kumar Sharma - Social Development expert Flora Nagbani Jammu
  • Tirath Das Dogra - Former Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, and an eminent Forensic Expert.

External links

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