DIWALI IN KASHMIR: WHERE A MUSLIM ARTISAN’S HANDS LIGHT UP THE FESTIVAL OF A HINDU COMMUNITY

A Kashmiri Muslim potter, Muhammad Umar Kumar, and his family craft thousands of traditional diyas for Hindu families celebrating Diwali. Their work preserves Kashmir’s declining pottery heritage while fostering interfaith cooperation, shared livelihoods and cultural harmony. Each handmade lamp symbolizes mutual respect, the continuity of tradition and a light that belongs to everyone.