BEGINNING OF A JOURNEY

I was so mesmerized watching the beauty which resides in these valleys that I totally forgot that I was riding a bike and also needed to focus on the road. All I was thinking and imagining that what it would be like to live in a place as beautiful as this and made a mental note that I have to visit this place once in a while.  With these thoughts we reached Srinagar.  The very evening we visited Dal Lake.  Although the sun had set and it was dark, the view was enchantingly beautiful. That just justified the lake’s given title of being the “Jewel in the Crown of Srinagar”.

THE GENESIS OF TREKKING CULTURE IN KASHMIR

Kashmir’s astounding beauty is capable of rendering anyone awestruck, justifying its identity of “Paradise on Earth“. It is blessed by nature in the form of gigantic snow-clad mountains, beautiful green meadows in summers, mesmerising alpine lakes and a twinkling night sky. Along with the enchanting beauty of nature, Kashmir also offers breath-taking experiences at places…

Kashmiri “Kahwah”

“Kashmir is the delicate reminder of the fact that poetry does not always need pages and words.” If you are in Kashmir and its cold climate is making you shiver even after cladding yourself in multiple layers of clothing and looking for beverages, go grab a cup of Kashmiri kahwah. I assure you that you…

KASHMIR: ABODE OF SPORTS

Kashmir is the Indian state where people possess a myriad talent. Like in any other field Kashmiri people also excel in sports. Sports mostly used to be a recreational & leisure activity for the Kashmiris, however with the changing times sports has become a lucrative career opportunity. The youth has also started to pursue sports…

WINDS OF CHANGE: Srinagar on UNESCO creative city list

Srinagar is now part of elite 295 UNESCO Creative Cities. It recognizes innovation, sustainability and creativity as primary drivers for inclusive urbanization. The Kashmir Valley has been embroiled in controversies and turmoil mostly sponsored by neighbouring countries since the last 30 years. The disturbance in the valley led to decline in tourism, especially amongst the…

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT – FOR BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY

valley is through NC Pass which remains intermittently closed during winters. Due to the remotelocation, proximity to Line of Control and vagaries of weather, Karnah tehsil remains on the lowpriority of the district administration. Besides, due to prevailing gender disparity it remains a maledominated society. The women in the rural areas have limited access to…

GLIMPSE OF THE HERITAGE

The richness of Kashmir’s culture is reflected through its diverse handicrafts like papier mache, willow wicker, wool and pashmina traditional yinder, and, embroidery work like sozni, tilla and chain stitch.

REVIVAL OF KASHMIR AS BOLLYWOOD’S FILMING SPOT

Kashmir will now be on the international tourism map again and film shoots will not only generate employment for the people of the Valley but also invite thousands of tourists from worldwide to bask in the glory of this blessed land. Bollywood’s love story with the picturesque Kashmir dates back to the 1960s and 70s….

The Kashmiri Papier-Mâché

Papier-mache is undoubtedly a craft of significance for Kashmir. Today it is a handicraft protected under the Geographic Indication Act 1999 by the Government of India. Papier Mache is one of the handicrafts that are an integral part of the Kashmiri tradition. The art has been handed over by generations of expert artisans. The art…

GUND GUSHI – THE HIDDEN GEM

Gund Gushi is a peaceful village away from the bustling life of the city with an indescribable tranquillity and serene atmosphere. Deep within the off shoots of the beautiful valley of Kashmir sits the village of Gund Gushi. The breath taking beauty of the valley encapsulates the very unconquered spirit of the men, women &…

Tanveer Khan : J&K’s First IES Officer

Kashmir needs to amp up infra for better research: Tanveer Ahmad Khan, Jammu & Kashmir’s first IES officer Bringing glory to the Kashmir valley, Tanveer Ahmed Khan of Kulgam district of Jammu & Kashmir became the first to qualify for the Indian Economic Services exam from the union territory and secured second position at the…

ABDUL ALEEM: JUNIOR FLAG MASTER

The recent lockdown imposed due to COVID 19 has constrained children to indoors. This has increased the screen time of young children who increasingly indulge in movies, tv shows and gaming. While the world struggles to keep their children off screens, a young Kashmiri has set himself apart by creating a world record, meanwhile watching…

RAJ BEGUM : Melody Queen of Kashmir

Raj Begum, the legendary singer from Kashmir, was not only a singer but one of the pioneers of women empowerment in Kashmir. She followed her passion and started singing at a time when most women didn’t dare to do so. She broke the taboo of the conservative society and opened doors of opportunity to female…

وادی کشمر

WADI -e- KASHMIR Mohd Aasif Gojri اےوادیِ کشمر اےوادیِ کشمر  وہ چاندنی میں رات کی رانی کے نظارے اٰٹھی ہوہی موجوں کی راونی کے نظارے دنیا میں ہے جنت تجھے فردوس کی اےوادیِ کشمر اےوادیِ کشم اللہ نے وادی کو بھی کیا رنگ دیا ہے دنیا میی ہے نرنگے قدرت کی تجھے تفصیر اےوادیِ کشمر…

MUSIC & ISLAM : A DEEPER LOOK

                  “Whoever says that all music is forbidden,                          Let him also claim that the sweet chirping sound of bird are prohibited as well”. Waking up every morning to the recital of Quran from the nearby masjid has always been so soothing to the  eras that it feels like the morning has become more brighter and…

Pristine Beauty of Gurez

Routine existence rarely provides space for reflection. Kashmir as we all know is undeniably a  heaven on earth. With countless snow clad mountains, immaculate atmosphere, picturesque  valleys and impeccable landslides, this exotic part of India is no less than a masterpiece by  immortals. Tourist across the country flocked the paradise every year. However much of…

Ayesha Aziz : India’s Youngest Female Commercial Pilot

She developed her love for flying during her frequent travel to Srinagar as a child with her parents. She would undergo 5-day schooling and would train for flying at the weekends. And finally in 2012, she secured her flying license from Bombay Flying Club. Teenage often finds youngsters toiling between education, family, love and the…

Turn over a New Leaf

“If you want to achieve something, build the basis for it” I am forced by my consciousness to write this to my fellow Kashmiri brothers and sisters on this extended canvas, because the Kashmir valley is undergoing grievous circumstances. I know, there are many supporters amongst us, who want Kashmir to be on its own…

Kashmir, the Zennat 2032

The streets hummed with a steady flow of traffic and the sidewalks were bustling with happy shoppers and excited tourists, both domestic and foreign. The Taj, Srinagar we checked into is all subdued luxury. Paneled walls, soft Kashmiri rugs and carpets and graceful, courteous staff, mostly young Kashmiris.

Kashmir Weddings

Cradled amidst the Mighty Himalayas, Kashmir is not just a picturesque destination but also a fusion of rich cultural heritage. Being situated at the crossroads of civilizations, its customs and values are a distinct amalgamation of the best of traditions. Born and bought up in Kashmir, I grew up being cocooned in the valley and…

Shirley’s Bhumbro Appeal to Kashmiri Youth

Bhumbro is a delightful folk song from the valley of Kashmir. The original Bhumbro was composed by Kashmiri composer Mohan Lal Aima for Dinanath Nadim’s Bombur ta Yemberzal, the first Kashmiri opera to be written and performed in 1953, Vinayak Razdan said on his blog Search Kashmir. The opera traces the romance between Bombur, the bumblebee, and Yemberzal, the Narcissus flower….

Woman Sarpanch in Kashmir

Boonikhet is a nondescript panchayat, cradled in the lofty Pir Panjal mountains in Surankote block of Poonch district in Jammu & Kashmir, but its ward panch, Zaitoon Begum, is anything but ordinary. For the permanent residents of Kashmir, life isn’t easy. The terrorism in valley has affected almost everyone, right from the children to the…