Category: KASHMIR

NASIR YOUSUFI

SRINAGAR: On a sunny day in the first week of May, scores of people assembled in the outer edge of a village near a large spring. Equipped with wicker baskets and mosquito nets, they wade into apparently muddy waters of the spring. Amidst hue and chaos while pushing and dragging baskets and nets in the water body, hundreds  of people are actually celebrating the traditional festival of collective fishing in a famous spring of the village.

Situated in South Kashmir’s Qazigund on the foothills of Pir Panjal, Panzath Nag or  500 springs in local parlance is not only known for its aesthetic class and economic treasure, the water body has a mark of hosting one of the unique festival in the world every year.

Every year hundreds of people from Panzath and adjoining areas take part in a centuries old ritual of catching fish in a waist deep waters of Panzath spring. Called Rohan Posh,the festival of fishing is celebrated by hundreds of locals with zeal and fervour.  The tradition gains significance as the annual fishing festival serves the more larger agenda of environmental preservation. According to locals, along with fishing the people remove weeds and slit from the water body which keeps the water bodies clean. “These Springs are very sacred for us. They are source of our livelihood. Besides irrigating our fields, the water bodies are a source of aesthetic and recreational activities in the area, says  Zubair Ahmad, a college student from the area while referring to the famous spring in the area. According to legend the term Panzath means five hundred and nag means spring. It is believed that the area on the foothills of Pirpanjal mountains was a host to about 500 springs, majority of which have disappeared or dried up , Zubair explains. As our ancestors were very careful about the Mother Nature, they used to carry out annual cleaning of these springs. While removing slit and weeds in baskets, they used to catch fishes too. Thus the tradition passed onto new generations in the form of fishing festival, says Zubair while deliberating upon a major but unique festival in the area.

 As the hundreds  people split into groups pushing and dragging  the traditional fish catching tools collectively  to get their share, there is a friendly  competition among people  in waters  for the catch.

“I use to wait for this day throughout year. I have been coming to this festival since my childhood, says Abdul Majeed from adjoining village of Panzath, who has come this time along with his 10 year old son to participate in the annual festival. It is not only the fish that is our motive, the day provides an ample opportunity for  the people of area to mingle together  and socialize too, adds Majeed.

As the hundreds  people split into groups pushing and dragging  the traditional fish catching tools collectively  to get their share, there is a friendly  competition among people  in waters  for the catch. “we have been trying to catch the fish for half an hour, But so far of no avail, say two teenage friends equivocally. Fish or no fish, But we are enjoying the moment say the duo while pushing their wicker basket through the muddy waters of the spring.”

As most of the baskets or nets remain empty for  large number of catchers. Every participant may not able to get the fish but one thing is sure, every individual returns with a more valuable stuff, a basket full of weed, says Sajad Ahmad, a middle aged villager who participated in the traditional event. This kind of fishing is a unique experience as every participant in the event at least carries out the de slitting and de weeding of the precious water body in the area.

As the festival has cultural connotations, the preparations for the annual event begin days ahead in this South Kashmir village. From baskets, mosquito nets to availing leave from the routine work, people make special arrangements on the day. It is not only the men and children who take the centre stage, the women folk too make special arrangements for the day preparing delicacies and a variety of fish curry on the occasion.

We too enjoy the occasion. Along with the men folk, the females too celeberate the annual festival. Though, they do not go into water body for fishing , But they play active role in giving festive outlook to the village and occasion. Zaitoona Begum, a middle aged lady from the village says, the women always wait for the outcome of the event as men folk return home with baskets.

As the villagers enjoy the day in traditional way, the uniqueness of the approach to celebrate the cleanliness of the  water bodies makes the festival a precedence for sustainable life.

NASIR YOUSIFI

sRINAGAR: Braving hardships, a boy from interior habitation of Mir Behri Dal in Srinagar has fared bright in recently held JKBOSE class 10th examinations. Securing a place among the toppers, the feat of the young lad is seen as an achievement and a source of inspiration as he had to overcome many socio-economic hurdles to emerge among the toppers.

As the time slowly tickles to Post Meridian three in evening, a mark when the link for recently held JKBOSE examination result is supposed to open for public, the throbs, anxiety and nervousness among a group of students at a private tuition centre in the vicinity of Dal lake determines the significance of the occasion. Amid the curiosity and tense, the tense boy from the interiors of Dal lake throw his hands into air making a gesture of prayers as soon his friend announces his result. The fair complexioned boy has come off with flying colours.

Mudasir Hussain Bhat, a 14 year old boy with humble background has scored 490 marks out of 500. As per the result declared by Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education Kashmir, Mudasir scored  98% marks securing 11th position in matriculation examination.

“Right from the day one of the examination, I was hopeful of securing a rank as I wrote my exams  very well”,  says content Mudasir. I am very happy with the outcome of my hardwork. Thanks to Almighty , the results are as per my expectations, adds jubilant Mudasir.

Having read from one of the government run  school in educational zone Nishat, Mudasir was a student of Government High School Nandpora, Mir Behri Dal. Mudasir says this school has an important role in grooming his reading and learning skills. I am indebted to a selfless support from my school all these years.  Apart from teaching learning activities, the benevolent attitude of school has always been a morale booster, Mudasir says.

Born to a family with humble background, Mudasir faced multitude of hardships while continuing his studies in a local government school. From extreme poverty, dearth of resources to lack of modern day gadgetry like cell phone and proper data signal, the boy from the poor habitation of Dal had to face a stark reality of underprivileged life. Continuous closure of schools for pandemic COVID 19 added to the miseries of the impoverished boy, as he lacked the resources for any form of online education. Virtually living in a hardly accessible habitation of Moti Mohlla in the interiors of Dal lake, lack of regular power supply to the area also hindered his preparations, as Mudasir says he could not study during night hours properly under the candle light.

In addition to lack of resources, the boy has to take care of his bed ridden grandparents as his father goes to work.

 The  boy  with stark eyes reflecting confidence never allowed these hiccups to impede his studies. “He has  proved how hardwork pays in life. The resilient boy stood firm by his resolve and never let the odds to distract him from the track”, Says Mohammad Afzal , a college dropout from the locality while commenting upon the commendable achievement of the boy. According to Mohammad Qazim, 60 year old neighbour of the boy, Mudasir is the first student from the area to secure a rank among the toppers in matriculation examinations.

According to one of the teachers posted at government run school where Mudasir did his schooling, the boy is a brilliant student with a quest for knowledge. He is also an ardent fan of eminent scientist Elbert Einstein says the teacher who used to teach him from class 8th.

It is not that Mudasir is not interested in sports or hobbies, He too loves to play cricket. “He often helps me in daily chores and regularly fetches  the fodder for a goat  from surroundings”, says his father Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, a labourer by occupation. Bhat is hopeful that his son would accomplish more feats in the feature and would bring laurels for the family and mankind too. Mudasir’s mother a house wife is says that his son would excel in studies and turn out to be a game changer for the literally lagging habitation. She is hopeful that the government and  well off section from the society  will come forward to help her son to pursue quality education and career.

Mudasir’s achievement in examinations is doing rounds on social media too. A number of posts published from different social media handles praising the brilliant performance of boy outdoing poverty and resource dearth have went viral on internet, with many netizens pouring all kind of praises for the humble background boy. “You are really an inspiration for underprivileged class”, wrote a netizen on one of the posts on social media.

NASIR YOUSUFI

SRINAGAR: Surfing between the different portals on her Smartphone, a young university student is apparently going through an intense thought process. Twenty three year old Sadiya Jan from Srinagar is in a fix whether to visit her tailor for winter apparel or order it online from a portal. After a long thought, She clicks the Buy button on one of the local e-commerce site selling ‘Pheran’, the popular winter apparel in Kashmir.

“I have to attend an engagement function of my cous next week. Keeping the rush of customers for ongoing winters in mind, getting the Pheran stitched from the tailor in time seems impractical. So I decided to go for an online order, as the collection on these portals is worth to buy ”, says Sadiya who is hopeful to get her order within a few days from the online vendor.

A long loose gown made from woolen cloth, Pheran is traditionally a unisex garment worn by both men and wom-en during the winters in Kashmir. Believed to have been derived from the Persian word ‘perahan’ equivalent to shirt in meaning. Essentially a survival tactics from inclement weather conditions in the valley, It is thought that the most used and cherished winter garment of Kashmir came to valley through the Persian travelers who invented the garment to get protection from cold. One more popular belief is that the Mughal emperor Akbar introduced the Pheran in the valley in the 15th century A.D.

Whatever the origin is, the cherished winter garment has come a long way since its inception in the valley. From old aged people to youth and children, during winters, the loose gown is a part of everyone’s dress in the valley. Pheran is not only the part of Kashmiri culture, over the years, the garment has groomed into a trendy wear becom-ing a part of fashion and modern life. Traditionally a dress used at home only, the winter garment has gradually carved it space in our home away life too. With new trendy and catchy designs hitting the market, the popularity of the Pheran is on a rise.

“Earlier one could see ,only the women folk wearing the apparel outside home. But now from teenagers to young girls, to spot a pheran in everyday life , stitched in latest design and color is a common trend ”, observes Dr Sham-shad, a sociologist from Srinagar. It is not only for the females, the pheran design used by the men folk has under-gone a transformation too. From body fit designs, Zip collars to big button pherans , markets are flooded with a varie-ty of Pheran designs for men too, adds Dr Shmashad.

With the increasing popularity of this special winter apparel, the Pheran has globally emerged as a symbol of Kashmiri culture and identity. A large number of students, workers and businessmen living outside the valley act as ambassadors of this cultural symbol to the world.

Politicians, local celebrities and Kashmir Diaspora in particular have been also instrumental in popularizing the Pheran. Kashmir politicians wearing Pheran in official meetings and during press briefs has helped in lending an official signature to Pheran. People living outside Kashmir in different parts of the country and world , proudly re-taining the winter ware as a part of their life style have popularized the winter garment globally. Local artists and models showcasing the prized Kashmiri Pheran also glamorize the Pheran. Last year a famous Kashmiri origin de-signer organized a ramp walk on the beaches of California with models flaunting different designs of embroidered Pheran.

The rising popularity of traditional garment linked with cultural identity of Kashmir has opened new market vis-tas for the people dealing with Pheran.

Mohammad Asif Malik, a young garment entrepreneur from HMT area in the outskirts of Srinagar has been mak-ing Pheran for last four years. He says that the sale of the winter garment has increased over the years. Making Pher-an for both men and women, 30 year old entrepreneur says that earlier he used to supply readymade Pheran to re-tailers and customers within the valley only. But this year, on the suggestion of a friend he started to showcase his products on a facebook page. Asif says, he has now scores of customers from outside the valley too.

Mohammad Asif is not alone, a female designer Shaista from south Kashmir’s Anatnag district has thousands of followers on her Instragram handle. She offers a home delivery of her specially designed pheran to customers. “In last two years , I have sold a good number of Pheran online. This season only, I have successfully delivered scores of Pheran outside the valley ”, Shaista says.

While cultural symbol of Kashmir, Pheran treads the path of global emergence, its market offline and online sees surge locally as well as globally.

Srinagar: Upholding the age-old tradition of communal harmony, the residents of Khanqah-e-Sokhta Nawakadal in Shaher-e-Khaas on Saturday 16th May 2020 help to performed last rites of a Kashmir Pandit who belonged to lone family of the minority community in the area.

Pall of gloom descended the area when breathed his last on Saturday morning. Omkar Pajnu is survived by his son and his family. People from majority community called an emergency meeting of management committees of Masjid Sharief Khanqah-e-Sokhta and Masjid Sharief Syed Muhammad Mosvi (RA) to finalise arrangements for last rites.

Even though people were staying at their respective homes due to COVID19 pandemic,

however they rushed to the house of bereaved family and shared their grief. Noted Islamic scholar Moulana Masroor Abass Ansari, who resides in the area, was among the first to reach out to the bereaved family. Moulana Ansari finalized arrangements for the last rites.

The Muslims participated in the funeral procession and accompanied the Pandit family to the cremation ground at Karan Nagar. After performing last rites of the deceased, the locals spend the day with the bereaved family.

“Islam teaches us to maintain brotherhood and harmony. It was our duty to reach out to our Pandit neighbours in this hour of grief,” said Imams of both Masjids at Nawa Kadal.

“We have shared joys and sorrows with Kashmir Pandits. We feel like our own family member has passed today,” said Tariq Ahmad Mir of Khanqah-e-Sokhta.

The bereaved family expressed gratitude to their Muslim neighbours. “We did not feel that we are alone in the area. It is only because of our Muslim neighbours that we could bear this irreparable loss. We will never forget that they shared our grief during the pandemic,” said Susheel Pajnu, son of the deceased.

Pertinently, few years ago, the inhabitants of Khanqah-e-Sokhta had also help to performed last rites of late Pajnu’s wife.

BUDGAM: Anjuman e sharie Shian Jammu and Kashmir is a socio-religious organisation founded by Late Ayatollah Aga Syed Yousuf (ra) in 1940s. The organisation is currently headed by Hajutull islam Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi. The organisation has been working right from the day the deadly Corona virus made its entry into Kashmir.

The volunteers of the organisation have been involved in sanitation drive across Kashmir including interiors of district Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora and Srinagar covering more then 300 villages. Some major mosques, Imam-baras and government offices including hospitals were coverd during the drive.

The organisation has provided more then 4000 ppe kits to the government at divisional, district, hospital and phc levels including some of the prime medical institutes of the valley like SKIMS JVC etc so that they can be used by health care workers in these testing.

Its worthwhile to mention that all these ppe kits have be donated to government free of cost.

The organisation has also been providing free food kits to the needy people in these testing times. So far some 2500 plus food kits have been distributed and more is being done. We have also distributed 10000 plus masks to the general public for there safety. The organisation has also voluntarily handed over its major assets across the valley to the government so that the same can be used as quarantine facilities by the government. In some of the places people have been kept for quarantine for example Ayatollah Yousuf Memorial Education Institute Shiganpora Sumbal Sonawari Distt Bandipora.