Over 10,000 students perform traditional Rouf dance in Baramulla cultural festival

Baramulla, Aug 10: The Indoor Stadium Baramulla reverberated with the soulful rhythms of Kashmiri Rouf on Saturday, as students from various schools showcased their talent in the traditional songs and cultural presentations.

This event was not confined to the Indoor Stadium alone but it resonated across the region as over 10,000 students from different schools simultaneously performed from 158 locations, marking a new world record for Kashmir.

This record-breaking feat was part of the “Kashur Riwaaj” cultural festival, organised in the run up of 78th Independence Day celebrations.

The event was organised by the Dagger Division of the Indian Army in collaboration with the Baramulla district administration and Indrani Balan, an NGO dedicated to cultural and social initiatives.

The performances of school children were broadcast live across various digital media platforms to make its presence for the global audience and to witness the vibrant display of Kashmiri culture.

Draped in traditional Kashmiri attire, students of all age groups took to the stage to perform different cultural activities. From traditional dances to music, each performance displayed the rich cultural heritage of the region.

The  largest Kashmiri Folk Dance was the main attraction during the event which created a record officially adjudicated by the Universal Records Forum (URF), an ISO 9001:2015 certified organisation known for its compliance with Guinness records standards.

“We have been rehearsing for almost a month. Now we feel all the effort was worth it. This is a great achievement, and we are proud to be part of the world record,” said one of the young participants, beaming with pride.

The event also featured captivating performances by young musical talents. Ishfaq Hamid Bhatt, a 13-year-old sensation, left the audience spellbound with his exceptional skills on the Rubab, while Naseer Ahmed Mir, a celebrated Santoor player who received a gold medal from the President of India during the Kashmir University convocation in 2021, delivered a mesmerizing performance as well.

The students who performed on the stage said that it was the first ever experience they witnessed in their life.

“This is something which has happened for the first time ever in my life,” said a student from Saint Joseph’s higher secondary school Baramulla.

“I am happy to be part of this programme that made a world record for Kashmir,” she said.

Another student from Santorum Public School Lalad Sopore termed her experience as unique saying that she has never seen anything like this before.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla Minga Sherpa, General Officer Commanding (GoC) of 19 Infantry Division, Baramulla, Major General Rajesh Sethi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) north Kashmir range Vivek Gupta, SSP Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure besides other senior Army officers and officials from civil administration were present at the occasion.