Azad Jammu & Kashmir is a fascinating land of people, languages & culture. The texture of present population is composed of races claiming their descent from Semitic, Mongoloid, Aryans, Persians, Turks & Arabs. The people of districts Kotli, Mirpur & Bhimber, are sturdy, simple, truthful and deeply attached to their land.
The culture of this area resembles to that of the adjoining area of Punjab. The people of districts Poonch, Bagh & Sudhanoti are militants and there are numerous anecdotes of their matchless valour as well as inspiring sacrifices for freedom. While district Muzaffarabad has its own distinctive culture. The people of the State are intelligent, ingenious, hard working, mobile & skillful.
Jammu and Kashmir's culture is as diverse as its terrain. Jammu, the Vale of Kashmir and Ladakh have developed their own distinctive culture over the years. However, the lifestyle of the people from the state, irrespective of the differing religious beliefs, is slow paced. 
Ladakh is famous for its unique Indo-Tibetan culture. Chanting in Sanskrit and Tibetan language forms an integral part of Ladakh's Buddhist lifestyle. Annual masked dance festivals, weaving and archery are an important part of traditional life in Ladakh. Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being thukpa, noodle soup; and tsampa, known in Ladakhi as Ngampe, roasted barley flour. Typical garb includes gonchas of velvet, elaborately embroidered waistcoats and boots, and gonads or hats. People, adorned with gold and silver ornaments and turquoise headgears throng the streets during various Ladakhi festivals.
The Dumhal is a famous dance in the Kashmir valley, performed by men of the Wattal region. The women perform the Rouff, another traditional folk dance. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts. Shikaras, traditional small wooden boats, and houseboats are a common feature in various lakes and rivers across the Valley. The Indian Constitution does not allow people from regions other than Jammu and Kashmir to purchase land in the state. As a consequence, houseboats became popular among those who were unable to purchase land in the Valley and has now become an integral part of the Kashmiri lifestyle. Kawa, traditional green tea with spices and almond, is consumed all through the day in the chilled winter climate of Kashmir. Most of the buildings in the Valley and Ladakh are made from softwood and is influenced by Indian, Tibetan, and Islamic architecture .
Jammu's Dogra culture and tradition is much similar to that of neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Traditional Punjabi festivals such as Lohri and Vaisakhi are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm throughout the region. After Dogras, Gujjars form the second-largest ethnic group in Jammu. Known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle, Gujjars are also found in vast numbers in the Kashmir valley. Similar to Gujjars, Gaddis are primarily herdsmen who hail from the Chamba region in Himachal Pradesh. Gaddis are generally associated with emotive music played on the flute. The Bakkarwalas found both in Jammu and the Vale of Kashmir are wholly nomadic pastoral people who move along the Himalayan slopes in search for pastures for their huge flocks of goats and sheep.
Traditional Kashmiri Music
Traditionally the music composed by ethnic Kashmiris has a wide range of musical influences in composition. Due to Kashmir's close proximity to Central Asia, Eastern Asia and Southern Asia, a unique blend of music has evolved encompassing the music of the 3 regions. But, overall, Kashmiri music is closer to Central Asian music, using traditional Central Asian instruments and musical scales. Kashmiri music uses a wide variety of musical scales, everything from musical scales which are very similar to the byzantine scale, and harmonic minor scale, to the more melodic sounding Major scale, and Minor scale. Also the use of vocals in traditional Kashmiri music varies. In some forms of Kashmiri music vocals are given the central role, forming the lead of the songs, but in many other varieties, it is the instruments that act as the central focus of the music. In a lot of traditional Kashmiri music the vocals are harmonized, with a wide ranging of harmonies from the use Consecutive fifths to one person singing the same melody either an octave higher or lower.
Rouf is a traditional dance form performed by women on certain important occasions.
Sufiana Kalam is also popular in Kashmir, this form of music is accompanied by a 70-stringed instrument called the santoor, along with the Kashmiri saz. Sufiana Kalam has been popular in Kashmir since arriving from Iran in the 15th century, and has been the music of choice for Kashmiri Sufi mystics.
