Year: 2024

Amid the waning demand, Bashir Ahmad Kharadi perseveres as the last Surnai artisan in Kashmir, crafting the traditional instrument with dedication. He laments the fading cultural heritage and the absence of initiatives to preserve this ancient craft. Kharadi. 47, is firmly handling a block of wood against an electrical sander in his nine-by-eight shop tucked between two four-storey residential buildings. He occasionally looks away at the minaret of the Sufi saint Syed Simnania’s shrine which overlooks his dingy shop. He hums some chants, returns his gaze to this wooden block, and starts boring small holes in it. Kharadi is again making a traditional Kashmiri musical instrument called Surnai. When finished, this surnai will adorn a shelf in the shop already stacked with years-old Surn...

Kashmir experienced frigid temperatures across its picturesque landscapes. Srinagar recorded a bone-chilling -5.0°C, while Qazigund and Kupwara reported -4.4°C and -4.7°C, respectively. Pahalgam, nestled in the serene valley, saw temperatures plummeting to -6.3°C. The famous skiing destination of Gulmarg and the enchanting Sonamarg both registered -5.0°C and -5.2°C, creating a winter wonderland. Other regions such as Anantnag, Bandipora, and Baramulla ranged from -4.9°C to -5.9°C, emphasizing the widespread cold. Even in the lower-lying areas like Kokernag and Ganderbal, temperatures dipped to -2.4°C and -3.1°C, adding to the frosty atmosphere. Pulwama and Shopian experienced a particularly frosty morning with temperatures dropping to -6.5°C and -6.3°C, respectively. Residen...

Last year Kashmir surpassed Switzerland as the most Googled destination of the world, reveals the Google data. As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in 2023, Kashmir was one among the top 10 online searched destinations of the world. In the list of the most Googled designation of the world last year, Kashmir stood at number six, just after Thailand, which got maximum searches than the valley. Switzerland remains a perennial favourite among travelers and enthusiasts worldwide. This shift in online search behavior highlights the curiosity of the globetrotters to explore the valley of Kashmir, which is often compared with Switzerland. In the number of most Googled destinations of the year 2023, Vietnam topped followed by Goa at the second spot. Bali and Sri Lanka r...

Suhail Dar Thirteen families lost their shelter during an overnight fire incident at Boat Colony area of Anantnag district's Khanabal area. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that on Tuesday, flames erupted from a residential house at around 2:30 A.M., which later spread to nearby houses in the area. During this fire incident, at least nine residential houses were gutted, causing great distress to thirteen families who were living in these houses. Locals said that the damaged houses belonged to Javid Ahmed Shaksaz, Abdul Gaffar Shaksaz, Mukhtar Ahmed Guroo, Baby Jan, Mohammed Ashraf Pushoo, Nisar Ahmed Guroo, Reyaz Ahmed Guroo, Muzaffar Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed Handoo, Mohammed Rafiq Shah, Mohammed Ashraf Wani, Sajad Ahmed Wani, Abdul Gani Wani. "The damaged houses belong to poor persons, ...

Danishwar Hameed The repercussions of the two-day strike in the Kashmir Valley, organized by transporters in response to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita passed by the BJP government, are reverberating across the region. Witnesses told The Kashmiriyat that a notable absence of public transport in key districts such as Kulgam, Anantnag, and Srinagar, leaving residents grappling with difficulties in commuting over larger distances. The strike, part of the 'Steering Chodo Andolan,' has garnered support beyond the valley, with transporters from Maharashtra, New Delhi, and various states joining forces. Mohammad Shafi Mir, Chairman of the All Kashmir Transporters’ Confederation, emphasized the solidarity behind the movement, stating that all types of passenger vehicles would participate ...

The Transporters in Jammu Kashmir have called for a two day strike in the region to protest against the newly passed bills by the central government. The newly passed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has legalized the provision of ₹7 lakh penalty and a 10-year jail term for hit-and-run cases. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar , Transporters Association Jammu Kashmir said that the new bill is oppressive and shall be revoked immediately. Details rushing in.