CULTURE

Over 95% of Pashmina is manufactured in Kashmir and yet there is no testing lab in Valley. The two Pashmina testing labs are in Dehradun and Kolkatta, much suffering to the people associated with the export business of shawls and Pashmina. Scores of people from the Kashmir Valley doing pashmina business are being questioned by Enforcement Directorate (ED). Sources told news agency Kashmir News Trust that Custom authorities mostly stop export consignments of Kashmiri businessmen at Delhi airport after they confuse Pashmina guard hair with shreds of Shahtoosh. This confusion on part of Custom authorities has created problems for Kashmiri businessmen. “Not only their export consignments are being stopped but it takes months together to get the report from the testing labs at Kolkatta an...

The administration in north Kashmir's Bandipora district is abuzz with preparations for the upcoming ‘Chota Amarnath Yatra,’ scheduled to kick off on August 31. Nestled in Arin Valley's dense forests on a Himalayan mountaintop, the Maha Daneshwar temple, also known as ‘Chhota Amarnath,’ houses a naturally formed ice lingam. Water droplets gently cascade onto this lingam from above. The pilgrimage to this cave takes just a day, with the narrow space inside accommodating only 7 to 8 individuals. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that the Yatra, covering a 15-kilometer-long route through the picturesque Arin-Dardpora belt, will wind its way via Shampthan, concluding at the sacred Chota Amarnath Cave. Local residents have expressed their support for the ...

Thousands of Kashmiri Muslims on Sunday took out processions in parts of the valley to commemorate the 25th Muharram Jaloos, dedicated to Imam Zainul Abideen (AS). The main processions were taken out in Srinagar's Shalimar area, Budgam, Pattan Baramulla along with other places. The streets were adorned with black flags and banners, reflecting the somber occasion of the 25th Muharram and the significance of Imam Zainul Abideen (AS), who was the son of Imam e Husain and the only male survivor at Karbala. The annual Muharram Jaloos serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the Imam and his companions, evoking emotions of grief, reflection, and unity. Two of the largest gathering was held in Baramulla, which was addressed by Moulana Masroor Ansar and Moulana Iftikhar ...

A twelve-year-old girl from south Kashmir’s Shopian has written 30 chapters of the holy Qur’an by hand in just 60 days. Soliha Shafi, daughter of Mohammad Shafi Bhat, from Watchi Shopian, is a student in the 8th class at Al-Saba School Watchi. Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Soliha said she wrote the holy Qur’an on close to around 750 pages. “I started reciting the Qur’an when I was 4 years old. I have memorised five chapters of the holy book,” she said. A local Imam Sahib comes to our residence on a daily basis to teach us the holy Qur’an and after seeing my handwriting, he suggested I write the Qur’an, the girl said, adding, “It was a challenging task and I had to balance the studies and writing the Qur’an.” “I would like to thank my parents for sup...

The Department of Handicraft organized a spectacular exhibition at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) Srinagar to coincide with the highly anticipated G-20 summit being hosted in the Valley for the first time. An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that this initiative aims to provide local artisans and craftsmen with a unique opportunity to display their exceptional talent on the international stage. "Dozens of stalls have been meticulously set up on the lush lawns of SKICC, each offering a mesmerizing glimpse into the world of Kashmiri crafts," he said. "Visitors to the exhibition were captivated by a diverse range of exquisite creations, including the renowned Pashmina shawls, intricate silk carpets, masterful wood carvings, delicate ...

The Department of Handicrafts and Handloom has submitted the dossier for registration of Kashmir Tweed to Intellectual Property India, Chennai, an apex-level organization for the registration and better protection of geographical indications relating to goods in India. The Director, of Handicrafts and Handloom, (H&H) Kashmir, while commenting on the downswing of the centuries-old craft of Weaving Tweed said that the GI certification of Kashmir Tweed will give a fresh impetus to the craft. The primary goal of registering it is to seek protection for Tweed of Kashmir, which further promotes and pushes it to grow on a global scale. “The department felt it necessary to get Kashmir Tweed recognized on National and International markets owing to its uniqueness of having 100 percent woo...

Two Kashmiri Pandit men on Thursday donated blood for a Kashmiri Muslim girl admitted at a hospital in New Delhi. Confirming the development to The Kashmiriyat, a Kashmiri Pandit settled in New Delhi said that the daughter of Showkat Ahmed Teeli of Sopore area in north Kashmir was in requirement of two pints of blood on Wednesday. He said that the  two year old admitted at Narayna hospital in Delhi is undergoing a liver transplantation surgery. Two Kashmiri Pandits named Sanjay Sapru and Sunil Kaul received the blood requirement notification online and within moments they rushed to the Narayana hospital in Gurgaon to donate blood for the two year old sopore girl, the Kashmiri pandit said. Mohit Bhan, a Kashmiri Pandit leader took to social media and said that incidents like suc...

A highly talented papier machie artist from Srinagar has been working for the last four decades to keep the exquisite artwork alive. Papier machie artists are abandoning the craft in the face of low wages with the younger generation little interested in carrying forward the trade. But Hakeem Manzoor Ahmed of Ganai Doori Alamgari Bazar Srinagar is now training his son to keep the paper machie art alive. Talking to News Agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Manzoor said that he was just 14-15 year old when he started learning this art from his elder brother who later abandoned it. But Manzoor created a niche for himself by his unique papier machie products with different colour combinations. “When this craft was in decline, we got an offer to work at Jamia Masjid Charar e Sharief. ...

A well-known coppersmith's innovations has infused a new life to the dying art as he hasn't kept copperware confined with utensils only. Muhammad Aslam Bhat, from KK Mohalla Shamaswari, Srinagar has given new life to this dying art by making innovative things with different designs. Bhat while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that his parents and even grandparents were associated with this craft and it was his passion to make innovative things and from an early age he started working at their workshop. “I have faced many difficulties which everyone faces in any field but earning anything with hard-work always makes you feel happy,” he said. “Despite working for decades, I am still passionate about making new things that are going to benefit the public". ...