There’s no place like home

Like most young people of my generation, I was determined to shape my career, benefitting from the outside world. While writing the higher secondary board examination, I was clear that to broaden my horizons I must step out of my house. Exactly one year ago, my destiny took me to the City of Hearts—Delhi. I got admitted to a prestigious university there, and I thank God for blessing me. Little did I know that the city of hearts would actually make me revisit my homeland, Kashmir. Though I completed the 12 long months in an unknown city, it became difficult for me to actually figure out what I missed the most about my hometown. From food to clothing, climate to topography, every part of Kashmir is missed when you are away from home.

Kashmir is a land of majestic landscapes that produces an awe-inspiring visual feast to viewers. Kashmir is not a mere name, it is a feeling of unity, richness, and vastness. Every aspect of the land tells a tale. The glistening water of Dal Lake hides under its depth the crystal-clear secrets of the sky; the vast Chinars know the stories of broken hearts. The Pashmina threads tell the yarned truth of the weaver, and the music is synonymous with the warmth of love. Every architectural wonder echoes the hidden wonder of a human. It tells stories of love and joy. The culture of Kashmir is vast and appealing, and it creates a long-lasting impression on the individual.

I fail to express my feelings of appreciation for the rich culture of Kashmir. But here I would like to explain what impression ‘The Culture of Kashmir’ puts on my mind with my crippled imagination. It’s difficult to give it a beginning, but let me start with Kashmiri food. As a hosteller, I attest to the fact that the primary reason for struggling living outside of Kashmir is the food. Kashmiri cuisine has developed its uniqueness owing to the sophistication and complexity of various cultures that evolved over time. Mughal emperor "Jehangir,” when asked about his dying wish, responded, “Only Kashmir.” Here, he meant not only the ecology but also its exquisite cuisine.

The language is beautiful. No culture is probably defined unless its language is understood.  Koshur is beautiful, and for a Kashmiri living outside J&K, the love for the language enhances. The ears crave the beauty of the language. The third important thing is the clothing. Owing to the harsh climatic conditions in the valley mixed with the cultural richness, the Kashmiri attire produces a vivid color and is thus profound in nature. Not only are the different Kashmiri dresses known to the tourists coming to Kashmir, but they have been showcased time and again in many Bollywood movies. My personal favorite remains the famous Pheran.

An important fact about pheran; once you have a Kangri (an earthen heat pot) under your pheran, the winters just seem like any other season. The other costumes of the valley are also an art in themselves.

Leonardo da Vinci rightly quoted that “Beauty perishes in life but is immortal in art.” What could be said about the land without mentioning its architectural style? The architectural design of the city is still the same as it was 300 years ago, and the wooden structures with gable roofs remind me of medieval European cities. It is alive with the cultures and traditions and has been lived in as it has been for centuries, keeping the essence of the old Kashmir intact. The architecture of Kashmir is a blend of an outstanding combination of mosques, shrines, temples, museums, buildings, and scenic heritage gardens that hold unique features of art and craft. I am fond of the architectural styles, and I usually love visiting museums, buildings, and gardens that remind us of the past around which the wonder was built. However, the Srinagar Smart City Project launched is considered to be a harmonic blend of culture, heritage, tradition, aesthetics, modernity, economic development, etc., which is a key to improving the outlook of the city further.

Words cannot do justice to the magnificence of the culture. I had a project on ‘Culture of Your State.” While researching for my project, I went through tons of articles and diverse information about the topic, and it made me realize that Kashmir is not about scenic beauty, flowers, gardens, or apple farms alone. It is about Sufism, hospitality, intricate handicrafts, music, reflections of heritage, and what not. Jahangir has rightly called Kashmir ”the heaven on earth.” I am so proud of being the daughter of this land!