By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
In a vibrant celebration of Jammu’s rich cultural heritage, the Dogra Welfare Association organised a demonstrative event to showcase the Dogra folk festival “Rutt Raahde” in New Delhi.
The festival held at Jammu & Kashmir House on Prithviraj Road in New Delhi revived a centuries-old monsoon tradition that has nearly faded from public memory.
Observed during the month-long monsoon season in the Jammu region, Rutt Raahde is an integral part of Dogra culture, symbolising harmony with nature, community bonding and indigenous wisdom. The event sought to reintroduce the festival to younger generations through folk music, traditional cuisine, live demonstrations and discussions on its cultural and scientific significance.
The programme began with the soulful rendition of the traditional Dogri folk song “Dhamma Dhamma Raadheya,” performed by Dogra Welfare Association President Sudesh Dogra, Jammu & Kashmir House official Savinay Kumari, Satya Devi, Soni Guleria, Pooja Sharma, Pushpa Sharma and Indu Sharma. The musical presentation, prepared under the guidance of noted singer Dheeraj Sharma, retained the authenticity of traditional compositions while incorporating a few contemporary verses to connect with modern audiences.
Adding flavour to the cultural celebration, guests were treated to an array of homemade Dogra delicacies, including Rutt, Chille, Babru, Madra and Ghyur, offering them an authentic taste of the region’s culinary heritage.
Presiding over the function, Additional Resident Commissioner, Jammu & Kashmir, Anil Sharma praised the Association’s efforts to revive an almost forgotten tradition rooted in scientific thinking and folk wisdom. He assured continued support from Jammu & Kashmir House for initiatives aimed at preserving the region’s rich cultural legacy.
In his keynote address, Association General Secretary Raman Kesar traced the historical evolution and social relevance of Rutt Raahde, urging Dogra organisations to revive the festival across villages in Jammu and promote it in major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chandigarh to strengthen the cultural identity of the Dogra community.
A live demonstration of the traditional practice of planting Raahdes and decorating the surroundings with colourful rangolis enabled visitors to experience the festival in its original form.
The Association also paid tribute to eminent educationist and litterateur Dhyan Singh, whose efforts during the 1980s and 1990s played a pivotal role in reviving the nearly extinct tradition.
Highlighting the festival’s contemporary relevance, senior psychiatrist Dr Anita Mahajan said that international studies have shown that people who remain closely connected with their culture and traditions are less vulnerable to mental health issues such as depression.
The event, supported by Jammu & Kashmir Bank, was attended by several prominent members of the Dogra community, including Colonel Sunil Sharma, theatre director Kajal Suri, astrologer Jeetu Singh, Mahesh Dogra and Shakti Sharma, reaffirming a collective commitment to preserving the timeless cultural heritage of Jammu’s Dogra community.
