10,000 women set world record for largest Kashmiri folk dance

As many as 10,000 young women set a world record by performing the largest Kashmiri folk dance in Baramulla, Kashmir. The "Kashur Riwaaj" cultural festival was organized by the Dagger Division of the Chinar Corps in collaboration with the Baramulla District Administration and the Indrani Balan Foundation as part of Independence Day celebration.

The festival, held at Prof. Showkat Ali Indoor Stadium, was a celebration of Kashmir's vibrant cultural traditions. The event featured traditional dances, music, calligraphy, and various cultural activities, with the highlight being the collective performance of the 'Rouf' dance by the young women, setting a new world record.

The highlight of the festival was the collective Rouf dance, performed by 10,000 girls in Baramulla. This performance earned a place in the Universal Records Forum (URF) as the largest folk dance ever recorded. Lt. Gen. Rajiv Ghai, Corps Commander of Chinar Corps, attended the event as the festival’s chief guest, accompanied by Maj. Gen. Rajesh Sethi, GOC of the Dagger Division, and Brigadier Rajat Bhatt, the Baramulla Brigade Commander. The Indrani Balan Foundation's Punit and Janhavi Balan also attended the function.


The festival also showcased the talents of renowned local artists. Ishfaq Hamid Bhatt, a 13-year-old artist, displayed his skills on the 'Rubab'. Bhatt has been awarded the Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar 2024. Santoor player Naseer Ahmed Mir also performed at the fest. He was previously awarded a gold medal by the President during the Kashmir University convocation in 2021.

The festival was further energized by the "Strings of Baramulla" band from the Chinar YUVA Centre and lively presentations by popular Radio Baramulla RJs. As RJ Harleen noted, "This was a program of the Youth, by the Youth, for the Youth of Baramulla."