Kashmir
Kashmir’s walnut harvesters are in danger
Amidst the lack of proper protective gear and ignorance of safety techniques, the walnut growers in Kashmir urge for safer means of harvesting to avoid life-threatening accidents.
Kashmiri man’s plastic venture turns scrap into success
Manzoor Ah Dar, a 50-year-old from Anantnag’s Turka-Tachloo village, rose from a humble background devoid of formal education to become an inspiring entrepreneur
Kashmiri Muslims light up Hindu homes for Diwali
In Kashmir, septuagenarian Abdul Salam Kumar crafts diyas (clay lamps) for Diwali. Despite his age, he diligently fulfils a 20,000 diya contract beneath Zabarwan peaks near Dal Lake.
Kashmiri women influencers you need to follow
Women from rural Kashmir are challenging societal norms, one social media post at a time, in an inspiring wave of digital change sweeping through the region.
Copperware carves way for Kashmir women’s empowerment
Defying gender barriers, young women are training to be coppersmiths in Kashmir and working towards making their mark in a male-dominated craft sector to ensure social and financial empowerment.
Shielding trout from climate change in Kashmir
Fish farmers combat autumn dry spell with a groundwater harvesting technique that ensures a continuous, round-the-year flow of fresh, cold water vital for their trout.
What a ‘grape’ village!
Over 600 years ago, Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-Ud-Din Wali praised Repora in Kashmir's Ganderbal district as 'Dachi Repora, Nazar chay cxopoor,' which means, "Repora grapes, your gaze extends everywhere." Today, Repora's vineyards are renowned for top-quality organic grapes, rivalling Italy.
Border tourism boosts Keran village
Standing on the banks of the roaring Kishanganga river, Keran has become a new tourism sensation in J&K bringing both hope and fortune to the villagers.
For the love of farming
Nestled among the lush apple orchards of Gagran village in Shopian district in Kashmir, Ali Mohammad Mir’s two-story mud house is a site for a thriving vermicomposting unit. The seventy year old farmer defies conventional farming practices and embraces eco-friendly entrepreneurship.
The Srinagar haveli where ‘Rockstar’ was shot
Jalali House, a downtown Srinagar marvel, hosts political dignitaries from pre and post-independence India. This heritage gem also stars in Bollywood films, drawing tourists to the valley.
Sang tarash: Kashmir’s stone carvers face hard truth
Amid technological advancements and other challenges, Kashmir's traditional stone carvers, known as sang tarash, are striving to preserve their craft.
Seasonal schools in Kashmir
On this World Literacy Day on Sept 8 we feature a unique education initiative by the Department of Education, Jammu and Kashmir, that aims to educate the children of the nomadic Bakarwal community.
Watermelon brings prosperity to grape village in Kashmir
In Kashmir’s Batwina village, watermelon farming is more than a mere agricultural endeavour — it’s a symbol of resilience, adaptability, and empowerment, showcasing how innovation can redefine the course of livelihoods in unexpected ways.
Trekking through Kashmir’s great lakes
The Kashmir ‘great lakes’ trek is a stunning adventure in the Himalayas, starting from Sonamarg. The 5-6 day tour takes you through lakes, mountains, meadows and glaciers, making it a rewarding journey.
Crafting a traditional tandoor
In Kashmir’s Palhalan village, many families are involved in making the traditional tandoors (clay ovens), which are used for baking the local bread - T’chot. Making a tandoor is a traditional craft that has been passed down through generations in this village.
Kashmir’s purple revolution with lavender cultivation
Prized for its oil, lavender blooms are being farmed on parcels considered wastelands before and these have cast a spell of hope, a promise of prosperity entwined with fragrance.
How Kud has become Kashmir’s sweet-making powerhouse
Nestled at the foothills of Patnitop, Kud stands as a sweat stop for Jammu-Srinagar highway travellers. Sweet making here isn't just a job, but a cherished labour of love, sustaining families and community bonds.
Gypsum jam: Rampant mining troubles Kashmir villagers
Villagers in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir continue to suffer from health issues related to air and noise pollution even as complaints to officials against gypsum mining lie unattended.
My name is Shoaib & I am a trans woman
Harassed by family, Shoaib Khan, shut hurtful words out and focussed on breaking transgender stereotypes. After becoming a woman, she chose to retain her male name. Shoaib works at an IT company and hopes for society to become more inclusive.
Vermicompost: How earthworms helped this Kashmiri farmer succeed
This 70-year-old farmer in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir runs a successful vermicompost organic fertiliser unit from a mud house in his village.