The Brahmins of Kashmir are an interesting combination of beauty and brains. Based in their Vedic Aryan background they have retained their ancient traditions but have also assimilated other cultures that flourish in India. As poets, scholars, statesmen and diplomats they continue to make their impact on the national and international scenes.

Kashmir or Kashir, the homeland of the Kashmiri Pandits, has been for centuries a great centre of art and culture. For centuries Jammu and Kashmir has been the homeland of different groups of people, such as, Brahmins, Buddhists, Huns, Muslims, Sikhs and Dogras. More than half a dozen languages and dialects are spoken by them. The principal ones are Dogri, Pahari, Ladakhi and Dardi. Linguistically, Kashmir was for long the home of Sanskrit and Persian and the modern languages are an amalgamation of the two.

It is said that originally the Valley of Kashmir was a mountain lake called Satisar (or the lake of the virtuous women). The etymology of the word, Kashmir is ambiguous. According to a legend the plateaux (karevas) of Kashmir were inundated and remained submerged for centuries in a vast and deep lake which the sage Kashyapa drained. The reclaimed land was called Kashyappur or Kashyapmar which later became Kashmir.

The history of the Kashmiri Brahmins, often referred to as Kashmiri Pandits, is ages old. The Kashmiris form a branch of the race which brought the language of the Indo-Aryan type into India as evinced by their language and physical appearance but the period of their immigration and the time they came by remain unresolved till date. They are a distinct class and are probably the purest specimen of the ancient Aryan settlers in India.

Between the 8th and 9th centuries several of them wrote many scholarly works. The `wak` (sayings) of the mystic, Lalla Arifa {popularly known as Lalla Didi) are greatly revered by them. She was a 15th century Shaiva poetess and a disciple of the famous Muslim Sufi, Mir Syed Ali Hamadani. In his Rajatarangim, Kaihana has portrayed writers, poets, priests and educationists. They have also enriched Indian philosophical thought with the Shaiva philosophy which is known as Kashmir Shaivism, Trika-Sastra and Rahasya Sampradaya or Trambaka Sampradaya.

Before 1930 they were all-powerful in Kashmir, economically, socially and politically. But after the partition of the country their population started diminishing and is now almost on the verge of extinction. Meanwhile, Muslim dominance, both political and economic, grew considerably in Kashmir.

About a 1000 years ago, Kashmir came under Arab and Persian influence and then under Muslim rule. Persian became the official language. The Kashmiri Brahmins who had become well-versed in Persian got good posts under the Muslims as Persian was also the court language at Delhi. Particularly because of their good knowledge of Persian, some of the Kashmiri Pandits who migrated to Bengal, Rajasthan and Central India, became diwans of the princely States.

They are a charming, highly cultured people. Fair complexioned, intelligent and hardworking, they are endowed with an extraordinarily artistic temperament. Most of them have a handsome physique with long or aquiline nose and beautiful eyes and Aryan features. Their women, with their lovely eyes and chiselled features, are among the most beautiful in the world.

Having a great sense of adaptability, those who migrated to the plains adapted themselves to Muslim culture. Their knowledge of Persian helped them to occupy high positions as ministers in the courts of maharajas, administrators and responsibility

When Urdu came into being they made it their language and produced monumental works. some of them went on to become great Urdu writers and poets. The Kashmiri Brahmins of Delhi, Lucknow and Allahabad speak fluent Urdu but many of those who left Kashmir can not speak Kashmiri. They were also otherwise influenced by the Muslim way of life and showed preference for Muslim attire and cuisine.

The traditional dress, the Phiran, worn by most Kashmiris (men and women) is a loose smock coming down below the knees. However those in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India dress in the Indian or European manner. The women wear saris and the younger people wear whatever is in vogue.

The Kashmiri Brahmins have a rich musical tradition that developed from the chanting of Hindu scriptures and the singing of devotional songs in Kashmiri at the time of the sacred thread and marriage ceremonies.

Some of the well-known surnames are: Wanchoo, Bhan, Kao, Gunju, Muttu, Razdan, Takru, Manwati, Panju, Gurtu, Walli, Kak, Shingloo (or Shinhlu), Thresal, Jhalan, Yan, Malla, Sapru, Kitchlu, Drulu, Dar (or Dhar), Haksar (or Hak), Bangru, Langar, Gadi, Thalssor, Kalpush, Warikim, Tikku, Lala, Minshi, Zitshi (or Zutshi), Amdarzan, Kaul (or Koul), Raina, Pulairu, Madan, Bakaya, Rawal, Kachru and Shivpuri.

The Kashmiri Pandits are scattered throughout India, particularly in the northern regions and many occupy high governmental and private posts. But the majority lives in Kashmir. Inter-caste marriages take place though among the upper classes. This group of Brahmins does not have any sub castes. Several rituals and ceremonies are observed till date. For instance on the sixth day after a child`s birth, the mother and child have a ritual bath known as `shran sunder.` On the 11th day, a purification ceremony, kahnethar, takes place when the mother leaves her room. Then a havan is performed and the child is given its name.

When a boy is 5 years old, a hair-cutting ceremony or moodan is performed. The head is shaved and only a tuft of hair being left on the top as is the practice among Brahmins. When the boy is 12 years old the sacred thread is put round his neck by his guru and he becomes a dvija (twice-born) Brahmin. In accordance with Brahminical rites he then begs alms for his guru from all those present. the money that is collected is given to the guru. The bath and anointing ceremony or deragori include the colouring of the boy`s hands with henna.

Marriages are mostly arranged by the parents. The horoscopes of the boy and the girl are matched by astrologers. On the wedding day, the bridegroom (who wears traditional Indian dress and a coloured turban) is made to stand on the vyug (a design made on the floor of his house for the purpose). The oldest woman relative brings a tray of lighted lamps and releases a couple of pigeons over his head. The guests sing songs and shower coins and sugar on him. Then he goes to the bride`s house in procession where the vyug ceremonies are again performed outside her house. The lagan (nuptial rites) are conducted by the family priests near the sacrificial fire. The couple partakes of curds and sweetmeats from the same plate. Then hand in hand they go round the sacred fire 7 times as the to the chants of Vedic mantras by the priests rent the air.

Till the end of the 19th century the dowry system of this community was different from what it is today. Along with the bridegroom, his parents also received gifts from the bride`s parents and in their turn, they also gave a dowry to the bride. Now the bride`s parents send the bridegroom a kilo of cream (in a silver vessel), seven thals (large trays) of sweets, a few flowers (an odd number), cloth for suits and an amount of five hundred rupees or more. In return his parents send the bride clothes, jewellery, seven or more thals of sweets, five or seven flowers, one kilo of cream and cash. The orthodox Brahmins do not eat anything cooked in the daughter`s new home.

Shivaratri is an important Kashmiri festival. It begins on the first day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna (February-March). The house is cleaned from the 5th to the 9th day and cash presents are sent to the daughters on the 10th day. On the 11th day, fish and bread are specially included in the menu. On the 13th day, the head of the family undertakes a fast and worships Siva at night. On the 14th day, a feast is held. The elder relatives receive presents from the younger. Cooked rice and meat are customarily sent to the daughters. On the 15th day, walnuts are distributed among relatives and friends.

The spring festival, called Sont, is celebrated on 15th March. Unhusked and cooked rice, a mirror, a cup of curd, a pen case, a few walnuts, a basket of unhusked rice and sweets are kept together overnight and have to be seen the first thing the next morning. Each person then picks up a walnut or two and then drops them into the nearest river in which a bath has then to be taken. Nav Warih (New Year`s Day) falls on the first day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra (March-April).

Other festivals celebrated by the Kashmiri Brahmins are Baisakhi, Jeth Ashtami, Har Navami, Punn, Kambari Pach, Dussehra and Krishna Ashtami.