Dogra

The Dogras (Dogri: डोगरा / ڈوگرا) are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group in India and Pakistan. Being a diversified group, the Dogras include both savarnas such as Brahmins, Rajputs, Vaishyas and non-savarnas. Dogra Rajputs are claimed and believed by religious Hindus to be Suryavanshi along with Chandravanshi Rajputs of Chattari origin. They ruled Kashmir from the 19th century, when Gulab Singh was made Governor General of Kashmir by the Sikh Emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh, till independence. They live predominantly in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir but also in adjoining areas of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and northeastern Pakistan. The Brahmin Dogras are predominantly Saraswat Brahmins, genetically of common origin with Saraswat Brahmin of Kashmir. They speak their own language, Dogri, which was recognized as one of the official languages of India in 2003. Most Dogras are Hindus, however some are Muslims.

The Jammu region

The Jammu region, one of the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir state (the other two being the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh), is bounded on the north by the Pir Panjal Range of the middle Himalayas, in the south by Punjab, to the east by Ladakh and close to the west by Pakistan. The lower Himalayan ranges begin behind the town of Jammu, which rests on a slope over 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level, overlooking and commanding the plain watered by the Chenab, Ravi, Tawi and Ujh rivers. The Jammu region consists of ten districts: Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Poonch, Kishtwar, Reasi, Samba, Ramban and Rajouri. The city of Jammu is the winter capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.