Page 7 - Kashmir

From Pashmina to Zighrana Ittar, PM Modi gifts handicrafts to G20 leaders

Visiting G20 Heads of State, leaders and their spouses were presented with handcrafted artefacts signifying India's rich culture by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.It is comprised of a curated compilation of handcrafted artefacts and products, which speak volumes about India's rich cultural traditions.Some of the products are the product of centuries of tradition and are cherished across the world for their unparalleled workmanship and quality. These were meticulously created by the hands of master craftsmen. However, some products are the result of the unique bio-diversity of the country.The Government of India presented a Kashmiri Pashmina Stole in a Papier Mache box to the spouse of Brazil President Lula da Silva, Rosângela da Silva.This Kashmiri Pashmina stole has many enchanting stories woven into its fabric. The wool is obtained by combing (and not shearing) the undercoat of specific Himalayan goats. Skilled artisans hand-spin, weave, and embroider their delicate fibres using ...

Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir will merge with India on its own, says VK Singh

"PoK will merge with India on its own, wait for some time," the Union minister for State said

Cong to hold district-level yatras to mark Bharat Jodo Yatra's anniversary

The Congress is set to hold yatras at the district level to commemorate the Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra, which was launched on September 7 last year, sources said on Sunday. The party is planning to mark in a big way the beginning of the cross-country march that saw Rahul Gandhi, along with several party leaders, traverse over 4,000 kilometres and interact with a cross-section of society. The sources said yatras will be held at the district level to mark the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on September 7 last year. They said the modalities of how long the yatras will be and other details are being worked out. Gandhi launched the yatra on September 7, 2022, in Kanyakumari. It ended on January 30 this year as Gandhi capped his ambitious 145-day journey in Srinagar. "I have not done this (yatra) for myself or for the Congress but for the people of the country. Our aim is to stand against the ideology that wants to destroy the foundation of

Kashmir's post-pandemic popularity as travel destination on surge: HAI

Unveiling a "Vision 2047" document, the Hotel Association of India (HAI) presented a 25-year roadmap of the future of the hospitality and tourism industry in Kashmir and said its post-pandemic popularity as a travel destination has increased. "The report highlights the rising appeal of Kashmir as a travel destination, especially for adventure tourism, in the aftermath of the pandemic," HAI said in a statement here. This recognition of Kashmir's allure coincides with an increase in tourist numbers, which is bolstered by an increased support from the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration, it said. Last year, approximately 18 million tourists visited J&K and G20 related events and this year's Miss World programme have positioned the UT as a prominent contender in event tourism, it said. "The recent G20 meeting hosted in the Union territory not only gave a boost to regional tourism but also showcased the area's potential as a destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, ...

Jammu-Kashmir elections can take place at any time now: Centre tells SC

Article 370 hearing: Centre tells SC polls in J-K can take place at any time, decision depends on Election Commission, state poll panel.

Grateful to see this beautiful place: Miss World on her Kashmir visit

Reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska, who loves to explore India and its culture, shared how the beauty of Kashmir mesmerised her

Editors Guild voice concern over blocking of Kashmir-based news website

The Editors Guild of India and other media bodies on Thursday voiced concern over the blocking of the website and the de-activation of social media accounts of Srinagar-based news website Kashmir Walla. The Guild is disturbed by the censorship measures undertaken by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology without following due processes and against the principles of natural justice, the Editors Guild of India said in a statement here. A joint statement issued by the Press Club of India, Press Association, Indian Women Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists and the Working News Cameraman Association demanded immediate restoration of the Kashmir Walla and Gaon Savera websites. According to the joint statement, "Apparently, no reason was given for taking such drastic action either to the owners of the websites or the public. The case seems to have not been referred to any Court either. This move raises serious questions about the state of press freedom and freedom

Amarnath Yatra: 843 pilgrims leave Jammu base camp for Kashmir Valley

A batch of 834 pilgrims on Wednesday left a base camp here for the Kashmir Valley under tight security to undertake the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, officials said. The 39th batch comprising 614 males, 146 females, 67 seers and seven children left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp, in a convoy of 27 vehicles, for the twin base camps in Pahalgam and Baltal, between 3 am and 3.40 am, they said. The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The traditional 48-kilometre Nunwan-Pahalgam route has so far been chosen by 586 pilgrims and they left for Amarnath in 20 vehicles. The shorter but more challenging 14-kilometre Baltal route was preferred by the remaining 248 and they left Jammu in seven vehicles for the Amarnath. So far, more than 4.25 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on Au

From Manipur to Kashmir: Key highlights of Amit Shah's speech in Parliament

The no confidence motion is one such motion where neither the people nor the House has disbelief in the government, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Kashmir struck by 3 earthquakes in one day, no reports of any damage

An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 on the Richter Scale struck Kashmir Saturday evening, officials said. There were no reports of any damage. The earthquake that took place at 9.31 pm had its epicentre in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan, officials said. The quake hit at the latitude of 36.38 degrees north and longitude of 70.77 degrees east at the depth of 181 km, officials said. This was the third quake to hit J&K in the day. Earlier the region was jolted by quakes occurring in Pakistan and in the Hindu Kush region at 8.36 am and 10.24 am. The two quakes, in that order, were measured 4.8 and 5.2 on the Richter Scale.

IAF moves LCA Tejas jets to Kashmir for flying experience in valley

The Indian Air Force has multiple bases in the Union Territory which are critical for operations on both fronts including China and Pakistan

NIA raids 5 locations in Kashmir in against newly floated outfits

The locations being raided by the NIA sleuths are residential premises of hybrid terrorists and OGWs linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several banned Kashmiri terrorist outfits

State Investigation Agency raids in south Kashmir in terror-related case

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted raids at multiple locations in south Kashmir on Tuesday in a terror-related case, officials said. The raids were underway at multiple locations in Anantnag and Shopian districts of south Kashmir, they said. The searches by SIA sleuths accompanied by police personnel were a part of the agency's probe into a terror-related case, the officials said.

Kashmiri carpet makers heap praise on Modi for global 'advertisement'

With his one little gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lit up hopes of hundreds of carpets makers of Kashmir, who believe his gifting a silk rug to a French dignitary will give a much needed boost to the local industry. Modi's gifting a hand-made Kashmiri silk carpet to the president of the French national Assembly during his current visit to the European nation has not lost on the local rugmakers, who see the act virtually as an advert. Shahnawaz Ahmad Sofi, a carpet unit holder, said the move was great and may stem the decline in carpetmakers fate in Kashmir. "We have seen the downfall of Kashmiri carpets in past decades but steps like these will give a boost to the carpet industry," Sofi told PTI. "If things like these happen at international level, obviously it will encourage the weavers. It was a royal Taj designed carpet which the PM gifted. It is a very famous design and only master artisans of silk carpets in Kashmir can make this design," he added. Mohd Rafiq, a ma

NIA conduct searches at 5 places in South Kashmir in terror conspiracy case

As per the NIA, which registered the case last year, proscribed terrorist organisations hatched plans to unleash violent terrorist attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir with sticky bombs

Two-day annual Kailash yatra to begin on September 11 in J-K's Doda

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have reviewed the arrangements for the annual two-day Kailash Yatra, scheduled to be held on September 11 and 12, an official said on Sunday. The arrangements were discussed at a joint meeting chaired by District Development Commissioner, Doda, Vishesh Mahajan and attended by senior civil, police and security officers, besides panchayat members and the president of the Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Bhaderwah, Kailash Sewa Sangh, the official said. The yatra to the 14,700-foot-high Kailash Kund, depicting the ancient Nag culture, commences with the departure of the "charri mubarak" (holy mace) from the centuries-old Vasuki Nag temple at Gatha in Doda. The official said the Sanatan Dharam Sabha sought foolproof security arrangements for the historic pilgrimage, accommodation facilities for the pilgrims, transport and firewood arrangements and water and electricity. Responding to the issues raised by the Sabha, Mahajan issued on-the-spot directions to those ..

Kashmir heaves sigh of relief as water level recedes in Jhelum river

People living in the low-lying areas of Kashmir, including Srinagar city, heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday as a flood threat eased due to a dip in the water level in the Jhelum river following improvement in weather conditions, officials said here. "The weather is improving and the water level will drop, but those living in low-lying areas should take precautionary measures at least for Sunday. Rains are expected in south Kashmir over the next 24 hours but not of the same intensity as on Saturday. The danger of flood is also receding," Farooq Ahmad Bhat, a meteorologist associated with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told PTI. The Jhelum was flowing above the danger mark at Sangam in Anantnag district and Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar since Saturday evening, bringing back the nightmares of 2014 when massive floods inundated vast areas of the Kashmir valley. "Like our prediction, heavy rainfall and snowfall in the upper reaches have taken place. The level of water in the ..

Amarnath Yatra temporarily suspended after rain lashes parts of Kashmir

The Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Friday due to bad weather as rain lashed many parts of Kashmir, officials said. The yatra was suspended along both the Baltal and the Pahalgam routes, they said. "The yatra has been suspended and no pilgrim is being allowed to move towards the holy cave shrine this morning," the officials said. Heavy showers, which started early on Friday, forced the temporary suspension of the pilgrimage, they added. The pilgrims have been stopped at the Baltal and the Nunwan base camps. The yatra will resume once the weather improves, the officials said. On Thursday, 17,202 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine, taking the cumulative total of devotees who have had 'darshan' of the natural ice lingam formation in the south Kashmir Himalayas to 84,768 so far.

Kashmiri Saffron: Why is it so expensive, and how has the market revived?

The price of Kashmiri Saffron is at an all-time high of Rs 3.25 lakh per kg from Rs 2 lakh per kg last year after receiving its GI tag

At Rs 3,250/10 gm, Kashmiri saffron is now five times costlier than silver

The price of saffron in the Kashmir valley skyrocketed to Rs 3.25 lakh per kg from Rs 2 lakh per kg last year, after the golden crop received the GI tag