Kashmiri
Quick Summary
The Kashmiri people primarily inhabit the Vale of Kashmir and surrounding areas. The majority are Muslims who speak Kashmiri or Urdu. Culturally and ethnically, they are closely linked to the peoples of the northwestern highlands of the Gilgit area. The Kashmiri language, a Dardic language within the Indo-Aryan family, has a rich folklore and literary tradition, influenced by Sanskrit and Persian.12
The region of Kashmir itself is mountainous and has been a point of dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947. The population of the broader Jammu and Kashmir region is diverse, with Muslims forming about two-thirds, Hindus most of the remainder, and small minorities of Sikhs and Buddhists. The official languages include Urdu, English, Kashmiri, Dogri, and Hindi.31
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HimalayasPeople of the HimalayasAmong the latter are the Kashmiri people of the Vale of Kashmir and the Gaddi and Gujari, who live in the hilly areas of the Lesser Himalayas. Traditionally, the Gaddi are a hill people; they possess large flocks of sheep and herds of goats and go down with them from…
Read MoreAmong the latter are the Kashmiri people of the Vale of Kashmir and the Gaddi and Gujari, who live in the hilly areas of the Lesser Himalayas. Traditionally, the Gaddi are a hill people; they possess large flocks of sheep and herds of goats and go down with them from…
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Jammu and KashmirKashmiris of the vale and highlands…people are Muslims who speak Kashmiri or Urdu. Culturally and ethnically, their closest links are with peoples in the northwestern highlands of the Gilgit area (in the Gilgit-Baltistan district) of the Pakistani-administered sector of Kashmir. The Kashmiri language is influenced by Sanskrit and belongs to the Dardic branch of Indo-Aryan…
Read More…people are Muslims who speak Kashmiri or Urdu. Culturally and ethnically, their closest links are with peoples in the northwestern highlands of the Gilgit area (in the Gilgit-Baltistan district) of the Pakistani-administered sector of Kashmir. The Kashmiri language is influenced by Sanskrit and belongs to the Dardic branch of Indo-Aryan…
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