“WE are all different, which is great because we are all unique. Without diversity, life would be very boring,” author Catherine Pulsifer once said, and it couldn’t be more right for Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir have their own distinct culture that are very different from each other.
Kashmir has a rich music tradition, with dances and orchestras of instruments such as the saz, santoor, rabab, sitar, table and garaha. These same instruments are used in Jammu in the Hindu folk dances and ballads.
But one thing that’s common to people of both these regions is the tolerance they have for one another. Jammu and Kashmir is an amalgamation of different cultures.
Besides being famous for its scenic beauty, Jammu and Kashmir is also known for its food, exquisite artforms and crafts that are specific to the state. All this make the culture of the region quite different from rest of the Indian subcontinent.
With a population of more than 12.5 million people, Jammu and Kashmir has people belonging to multiple ethnic groups such as the Dogras, Gujjars and Hanjis, besides Kashmiris.
The term Kashmiri is used to refer to all people of Kashmir living within the valley, Neelam Valley, Leepa Valley, Kishtwar, Bhadarwah, and Doda and Ramban tehsils of Jammu division.
Most of the Kashmiris are either involved in agriculture or businesses such as carpet-making, papier mache, wood carving, embroidery, tourism, hotel management and other handicrafts.
The Hanjis are the water dwellers and are confined to Jhelum River, Dal, Anchar, and Wular lakes situated especially between Chattabal, Srinagar and Khanabal, Anantnag. They are widely engaged in the houseboat industry.
The Dogra belongs to the Jammu division of the state and traditionally inhabited the areas between Shivalik mountain range, Saroiensar and Mannsar lakes. They later shifted to the entire Jammu region.
The Gujjars and Bakarwals are nomads, and they form a significant part of the population of the state. Their livelihood depends upon cattle-keeping.
Languages spoken in the valley further highlight the diversities prevalent in the different provinces of the state.
Kashmiri, which is an Indo-Aryan language, is also known as Koshur. People living in Kashmir Valley speak Kashmiri. People living in Ladakh speak Ladakhi, whereas people in Jammu mostly speak the Dogri language.
The arts and crafts of Jammu and Kashmir are a source of pride for its residents. Handwoven silk carpets and rugs, fine-quality Pashimina shawls and khatam-band, a kind of woodwork that is used to decorate ceilings of rooms, are unique to the region.
Every culture makes music and those created in the Jammu and Kashmir region have a charm of their own. There are three distinct forms, such as Sufi, ghazals and choral music that are popular in Jammu and Kashmir. Wanawun is another popular form of music that is sung and played during wedding ceremonies in Kashmir. Chakri and Punjabi mahiya, too, echo in the mountains.
As for dance, each ethnic group has their own dance forms. Elaborating on Gojri naach, a dance form favoured by the Gujjars, Mujahid-ul- Islam writes in Lokchaar: “Gojri naach is very illustrious to the Gujjar culture. It is generally performed during marriage ceremonies. It is a natural form of dance and delightful too. Male dancers dance in their customary costumes forming a line with sticks in their hands. Women dance on the other side adjusting the pattern on the rhythm of drum. Gojri naach is always performed together with a folk song.”
The Dumhal is a famous dance in the Kashmir Valley, performed by men of the Watal caste. The women perform the Roaff, another traditional folk dance.
Marriage ceremonies are marked by the Hafiza dance, while young Kashmiri boys celebrate the harvest season with the Bacha Nagma dance.
Among the musical instruments, rabab is one of the oldest and most integral part of Kashmiri music. It originated from central Afghanistan and was adapted into Kashmiri music centuries ago. It is believed that Kashmiri folk music is incomplete without the rabab.
“Rabab is that music or the tune which collects all tunes from instruments and creates its own music. That is why rabab should be played at every party,” Sonaullah Reshi, Kashmiri folk singer, once said.
Literature is yet another important aspect that provides an insight into history of different cultures. In this regard, authors Kalhana is well remembered for his historical works that threw a flood of light not only on the history of Kashmir but also on the history of India. Kavi Bilhana is yet another important literary figure from Kashmir.
The clothing worn by the men and women of Jammu and Kashmir are also very different from the rest of the Indian subcontinent.
Traditional clothing for Kashmiri men is usually pants called churidar or looser pants called salwar. Over this, a loose woollen tunic called a pheran is worn. It is loose so that in winter people can put under it a thick padded bag of hot coals to keep warm.
Headdress is often a turban, karakuli cap or skull cap. Pashmina belts are also common. Coats are fleece or wool. Kashmiri women wear heavily embroidered pheran tunics. Some Muslim women wear longer tunics with narrow sleeves.
Hindu women wear a headdress called taranga, which is a wide scarf attached to a cap. There are other headdresses also, depending on whether or not the woman is married, and more decorated headdresses for festivals or weddings. Variations of these garments are worn by some of the smaller ethnic groups of the region.
INDIAN cricket has signed Apollo Tyres as its new lead sponsor after fantasy sports platform Dream11 ended its contract following a government ban on online gambling.
The men's team travelled to the United Arab Emirates for the ongoing Asia Cup without a sponsor on their shirts after Dream11 exited the deal, which was worth about $44 million and was set to run until 2026.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the new contract with Apollo Tyres runs until March 2028. While the value was not disclosed, the board said it is higher than the previous deal.
"The new partnership, secured after a rigorous bidding process, represents a substantial increase in sponsorship value, signifying the immense and growing commercial appeal of Indian cricket," the BCCI said in a statement.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said, "We are excited about this being Apollo's first major sponsorship in India cricket, which speaks volumes about the sport's unparalleled reach and influence. This is more than a commercial agreement; it's a partnership between two institutions that have earned the trust and respect of millions."
Apollo Tyres Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Neeraj Kanwar said, "Cricket's unmatched popularity in India and worldwide makes it an honour for us to become the national team lead sponsor of Team India."
The Apollo Tyres logo will appear on the jerseys of the Indian men's and women's teams across all formats.
Last month, the Indian parliament passed a law banning online gambling. The government said gambling platforms had caused financial distress, addiction and even suicide, and were linked to fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing. Fantasy sports apps such as Dream11 continue to operate, though for prizes and not cash.
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Sydney Sweeney reportedly offered £45m for a leading role in a major Bollywood film
The package includes £35m in fees and £10M in sponsorship deals
Filming is tentatively planned for early 2026 across New York, Paris, London, and Dubai
The project could make Sweeney one of the highest-paid Hollywood stars to join Indian cinema
A record-breaking offer
Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney has reportedly been approached with a staggering £45M deal to star in one of the most expensive Bollywood films ever produced.
The 28-year-old Euphoria and The White Lotus star is said to have been offered £35m in fees plus an additional £10m through sponsorship agreements.
Details of the proposed project
The untitled film would cast Sweeney as a young American celebrity who falls in love with an Indian star. Filming is expected to begin early next year, with international locations including New York, Paris, London, and Dubai.
Industry insiders describe the project as an effort to bring Indian cinema to an even larger global audience, with Sweeney’s involvement seen as a move to elevate its international appeal.
Industry perspective
A source close to the negotiations said: “Sydney was shocked by the offer at first — £45m is an incredible sum. But the project is intriguing, and it could elevate her global profile even further. Nothing has been decided yet, but it’s a huge opportunity and she is weighing her options carefully.”
A step into Bollywood
If she accepts, Sweeney would join other international stars who have crossed into Bollywood, including Priyanka Chopra and Shilpa Shetty. The Indian film industry has increasingly sought crossover projects to expand its global reach.
Recent career highlights
Sweeney, who rose to fame on HBO’s Euphoria and The White Lotus, has recently been building her film career. Her latest project, Christy, sees her portraying US boxing champion Christy Martin, the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Speaking about the physically demanding role, Sweeney said: “Every single fight you see, we’re actually punching each other. I always believed that you wouldn’t be able to make it feel real if it’s a stunt double or if it’s faking the hits.” Christy is set for release on November 7.
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Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has said he is “disappointed” following reports
China’s Cyberspace Administration has reportedly ordered tech firms to stop using Nvidia’s AI chips
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says he is “disappointed” but will remain “patient”
Huang is visiting the UK alongside other tech leaders during Donald Trump’s state visit
Nvidia became the world’s first $4tn company earlier in 2025 amid the AI boom
Huang responds to reported China directive
Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has said he is “disappointed” following reports that China has told its leading technology firms to halt purchases of the company’s artificial intelligence chips.
Speaking to reporters in the UK, Huang added that he would remain “patient” in light of the reported order from China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration. “There are a lot of places we can’t go to, and that’s fine,” he said.
Background to chip restrictions
Nvidia is the world’s leading chipmaker, central to the global AI boom with its processors powering data centres worldwide. China, meanwhile, has been working to develop its own semiconductors as part of a broader AI strategy to reduce reliance on US technology.
The company had already faced restrictions in China. Its most advanced chips were previously banned from sale to the country before US President Donald Trump reversed the decision in July. As part of an unusual arrangement, Nvidia must pay 15% of its Chinese revenues to the US government.
Financial Times report
According to the Financial Times, China’s Cyberspace Administration recently told domestic technology firms — including major players such as DeepSeek, Tencent and Alibaba — to stop buying Nvidia’s specially designed China-market chips.
Shares in Nvidia were down more than 1% in pre-market trading following the news.
Support for US policy
Asked about the geopolitical tensions, Huang said he would support the US as it sought to resolve the issues and would convey the same message directly to President Trump if asked.
Huang is one of several technology leaders, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, attending Trump’s state visit to the UK. They are expected to join a state banquet on Wednesday evening.
UK investment and tech collaboration
Despite the reported setback in China, Nvidia has continued to expand its footprint elsewhere. The company recently announced it would supply chips to the Stargate UK data centre, a major project in north-east England involving OpenAI, Arm and NScale. The commitment forms part of a broader UK-US technology pact.
Valuation milestone
Nvidia became the first company in the world to surpass a $4tn (£2.9tn) market valuation earlier this year, underscoring its dominance in the AI sector even as geopolitical tensions shape its global reach.
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Tagenarine Chanderpaul. (Photo by PAT HOELSCHER/AFP via Getty Images)
BATSMEN Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze were recalled to the West Indies ranks when they were named in the squad to tour India on Tuesday (16) while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre is included for the first time.
The two-Test series, with matches in Ahmedabad and Delhi, marks the West Indies' first tour to India since 2018 and forms part of the World Test Championship.
Neither Chanderpaul nor Athanaze were involved in the recent series against Australia but have been included to bolster the top-order batting.
"The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles, with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling," said head coach Daren Sammy.
Pierre, meanwhile, has been included as the second specialist spinner in the squad after strong performances in the West Indies championship, where he claimed a chart-topping 41 wickets at an average of 13.56.
"Khary is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions," said Sammy.
Another left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who has not figured since the second Test against Pakistan in Multan in January, has been rested for this red-ball series to focus on the upcoming limited-overs schedule which includes the T20 World Cup in February and March.
West Indies, who are ranked eighth in the Test rankings, face a stiff test against the fourth-ranked side who are always so strong on home soil.
"Playing in the subcontinent always presents a challenge and we have selected a team to be competitive in these conditions." said Sammy.