Tuesday, August 26, 2008

'Jammu' and 'Dogra'









DOGRA

Total population 873,000


Regions with significant populations :INDIA&Pakistan


Languages :Dogri
Religion :Hinduism
Related ethnic groups: Rajputs, Punjabis, Seraikis



The origins of the name 'Jammu' are shrouded in mystery, as is the history of the people inhabiting the territory, popularly known as 'Duggar', but the towns of the region with their fortresses stand testimony to a distinct cultural and linguistic identity. Some try to trace its origin in the word jambudvipa, a combination of the word `Jambu' and dwipa (island). According to Sir Walter Hamilton (Description of Hindustan, pg. 499), "It is possible that an ocean may at one time have reached the base of these mountains forming high table lands into islands." The famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang describes the valley of Pamir as "the centre of Jambudwipa." Some attribute the name to Jambavantha or 'Jamwant', the 'Riksharaja' or the king of the bears in the army of King Sugriva in the Ramayana, who is said to have meditated in the Peer Kho Cave on the banks of the Tawi River.According to the 'Imperial Gazetteer of India' the origin of the word 'Dogra', as commonly stated by the people themselves, is said to have arisen from the fact that the cradle of the Dogra people lies between the two lakes of Sruinsar and Mansar. 'Dwigart Desh' or the country of two hollows, was corrupted into Duggar and 'Dugra' and then became Dogra. From Jammu stretching to the east along the plains of the Punjab is the Duggar country and all who live in it, whether high born Rajputs or high born menials are known as Dogras, and have certain national characteristics and a common tongue, Dogri, which are differentiated from any of the other people in India. What is more acceptable is the popular belief that Jammu owes its name to Raja Jambulochan, but it remained an insignificant village till the fourteenth century A.D.
TO KNOW MORE ABOUT JUST CLICK(http://www.duggartimes.com/)

No comments: