Rouf, the Colourful Folk Dance of Kashmir that is Slowly Fading Away

The paradise on Earth is adorned with splendid beauty and incredible culture. With cuisine that can water your mouth to art forms that require exquisite mastery, this place offers a plethora of cultural extravaganzas. One such form of art is the traditional dance of the Kashmir. Rouf, the folk dance of the valley is a footwork-heavy dance that the women of the region perform. But is the dance form that was once thudding with the synchronisation of feet slowing tiptoeing on its legs? 

What is Rouf Dance?

The dance form is not like any other as it is not performed for leisure but was started as a practice on festive occasions like Eid and Ramzan by the Muslims of Kashmir. It was basically performed during the holy month of Ramadan to celebrate the beginning of the holy month and later to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, as well as at the onset of the spring season to welcome the harvest. ‘Rouf' which is generally pronounced as ‘ruf’ in villages and as ‘row’ in cities has originated from 'dwarf-dance' as per Vedic language. It is believed that the 'Rouf' is inspired by the bee and its movements towards and away from the bud. To signify this, it is performed by a group of women standing face-to-face. This further gets interesting because the song on which the dance is performed comprises one group asking questions and the other providing answers in rhythmic form. For instance, in a Rouf song, one group would sing; "Eid aayi ras ras" (Eid has arrived slowly and slowly). Another group replies by singing, "Eidgah wase weyi" (Let’s go to Eidgah). 

The star of Rouf 

However, the conversational feature is not the most notable attraction of this art form. The most mesmerising representation is the footwork of the dancers. The footwork, also called the 'Chakri' in the local language, is the dance's basis. Generally, there are two or four groups, consisting of 2 to 3 women facing each other, holding the hand of the adjacent partner. On rhythmic beats they come one step forward and on the next, they go one step backwards in a swaying motion. 

Traditionally, there wasn’t any musical accompaniment while performing this craft but while displaying it on stage or in an informal gathering, Kashmiri folk musical instruments like Nout (an earthen pot instrument), Tumbakhnari (a kind of Kashmiri drum) and Rabab (a stringed instrument) are used. 

A vivid costume is the identity of this dance form apart from the footwork. The women are dressed in colourful costumes during a Rouf performance. They wear colourful pherans or phirans, the traditional dresses of Kashmiri women and Kasaba (the headgear). Although performed for quite a few years, this sight with colourful swirls and twirls has been vanishing for the past times. It is now limited to just marriage celebrations due to various factors such as less interest from women to learn and participate in it, political disturbance in the valley and the shyness to follow the age-old culture. Even though the interest seems to have faded out for this art form, 10,000 women from the Baramullah town of Kashmir set a World record for the largest-ever Kashmiri folk dance which ignites the hope of preserving this beautiful craft.