My story of survival during the floods brought tears to many. Alhamdulillah many could understand what a lot of people went through during these floods. My experience was something that I cannot forget — and should not forget. However traumatic it might have been, I have to be thankful for a home to be able…
Category: Kashmiri life
Surviving through Kashmir Floods
This is my story 6th September was my cousins mehendi _ day before the wedding day. We didnt go the whole day as it was cold and rainy and it would be difficult to manage with a new born. My elder son who is 6 was bored and we spent the day playing word building….
The Autumn Leaves Still Fall
It’s early morning in Srinagar. The chinar leaves are fluttering in Lal Bazar. The sweepers are busy clearing the leaves from the roads. While walking through the tiny lanes that lead to ‘Rasool Kandur’ (Rasool the Baker), Charagh Baigh a 14 year old boy, hears a woman cursing the Autumn season, “Yem harud’an tul toas…
Certificate of no sympathy
It is hereby to award the Jammu and Kashmir police of not being militant sympathisers. I do understand that the Inspector General of Police, Kashmir said, “We don’t need anyone’s certificate.” but in reality the police gets a certificate each time a ‘militant’ is caught and killed or caught and tried for the militant actions….
Khandar – The Kashmiri Wedding – part 4
What started off as a small note on the food preparation for Kashmiri Weddings has somehow got me into putting into words my experiences, perceptions, ideas on Kashmiri Wedding in a series of articles. Part 2 talked of the match-making process, while the last article – part 3 – talked of the ‘Nishayn’ or engagement,…
Khandar – The Kashmiri Wedding – Kupwara
A few years back I had the honour of being invited to a wedding feast in Kupwara. To me a chance to visit the countryside in Kashmir is always something I look forward to – not only does it pristine unmatched beauty thrill me, the simplicity of its people, the sweet smile of the kids who grow up away from the ‘city-life’ makes me feel like this is the real Kashmir. Kashmir away from the ugly influences that makes us act like someone else.
Kashmiri Song – Love for the Prophet
Woke up one fine morning to a beautiful sound. I knew he was here – singing eloquently – naats and other songs praising Allah and professing love of the Prophet. Grabbed my dupatta, got my son ready and we ran down to see my parents in law listening as this man sung. There was magic…
Khandar the Kashmiri Wedding – Part 3
For those of you who have visited my blog before, you might have already read a little something about the Kashmiri Wedding here. While preparation of food (see Khandar the Kashmiri Wedding) is a very elaborate and lavish affair, the process of finding your soul-mate, the koshur-way is a complicated and tiring process (see Khandar…
Sakooter or Scooter! That’s the way to go!
I just happened to read this news item in Kashmir Times. It talks of how women in Kashmir have started using scooter as a convenient means of transport and of the acceptance of the idea among the locals. To me watching a woman drive a scooter is the idea of freedom – beautiful freedom! Some…