Kud

Kud is a typical community dance performed in the middle mountain ranges of Jammu. During the rainy season, when the maize is harvested, the villagers come down from the nearby hills and gather in the vicinity of the gramdevata, the presiding deity of the village. To express their gratitude for protecting their crops, cattle, and children from natural calamities, the farmers dance Kud for the diety. Men, women and children wearing their best dress gather around a bonfire for the nightlong festivities. The musical accompaniment is provided by Dhauns, the drum, Bansiri, the bamboo flute, Ransingha, a kind of trumpet. The costume of the dancers vary from place to place as do the song sung while dancing. The Kud is usually danced all night on moonlight nights.