Greetings and Farewells in Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu & Kashmir's linguistic diversity yields multiple greetings:

Hello

• Assalamu alaikum (Arabic/Urdu) – Most common (Muslim majority).
• Namaskar / Namaste (Sanskrit/Hindi) – Formal, Hindu/Buddhist.
• Sat Sri Akal (Punjabi) – Sikh greeting.
• Kehwa chhu? (Kashmiri) – "How are you?" informal.

Goodbye

• Khuda hafiz / Allah hafiz – Muslim farewell.
• Namaskar – Formal Hindu/Buddhist farewell.
• Sat Sri Akal – Sikh farewell.
• Phir milenge (Hindi/Urdu) – "We'll meet again."
• Chhu yi (Kashmiri) – "Go well."

Usage follows religious/cultural identity; "Assalamu alaikum" and "Khuda hafiz" are most widely understood.