You deleted this tweet after I commented on it.I want to ask you
@SalmanNizami_
, that if YOU, as a NON-KASHMIRI can interfere in Kashmir matters,why canโt a 100% ethnic KP,
@AnupamPKher
make a movie on KP genocide?Also pls explain whatโs your contribution in helping us go back?
Sunil Gavaskar was attending a function at Lahore. He was introduced to Noorjahan but Noorjahan said that she only knows Imran & Zahir. Later, she was introduced to Sunil & then pat came his response - he said that he only knows Lata Mangeshkar!
#LataMangeshkar
#SunilGavaskar
On d occasion of Navreh (New Year),Kashmiri Pandits offer prayers at the most revered shrine of Sharika Mata at Hari Parbat. Sharika is d presiding deity of Srinagar,who killed d demon Jalobhava in Satisar in d form of a bird.She dropped a pebble on his head which is Hari Parbat.
Datta Mandir is an ancient 10th cent. Kashmiri architecture style Vishnu temple near Boniyar, on the banks of Jhelum. Legend says that this temple was actually built by the Pandavas during exile, the stones for which were carried by Bheem all the way from the nearby mountains.
Mamaleshwar or Mamal Temple in Pahalgam,Kashmir. As per the legend,this is where Ganesha was appointed doorkeeper by Parvati,not allowing anyone to enter the premises without her permission.Its here that Shiva beheaded Ganesha & gave him an elephant head.Mam Mal means โdon't goโ!
Look at the happiness and warm gratitude of the Syrian child at the unexpected gesture by his Turkish teacher when she got him a cake on his birthday!โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ
Pandrethan or the Pani Mandir, Srinagar, today. Whenever the water in the nearby Jhelum increases, the water level in the temple also goes up.
Looks beautiful!โฅ๏ธ
If you want to eat authentic and finger-licking vegetarian Kashmiri Pandit food, do make a visit to Ramji Halwai in the Khir Bhawani premises, Kashmir. Better still, call him a day before & let him know what all you would like to eat!
#KashmiriPandits
#KashmiriFood
#vegetarian
Finally, d story of Kashmiri Pandits' exodus from their own homeland, being told! Thanku
@rahulpandita
for this.
For a moment, I cd see myself removing tht bindi from my forehead (my mother wd do tht for me whenever I wd visit home during those years)
#Shikara
#KashmiriPandits
The drive between Sonamarg & Drass is one of the most adrenalin pumping & scenic ones that one would have ever seen.The winding roads,tall mountains, blue-green Drass river flowing alongside is dreamlike. You cross d Zoji La after which d prettiness shifts from Kashmir to Ladakh!
Kashmir From My Lens: Datta Mandir near Uri, believed to be from the 10th CE is made in typical Kashmiri style of architecture. The temple is situated on the left bank of Jhelum & is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Maintained very well by BSF.
#URI
#Temple
#Kashmir
Tomorrow is Navreh (Kashmiri Panditsโ New Year day). At night today, a Thaal is set with items like raw & cooked rice, milk,curd,salt,sugar,money,jewellery,pen,ink pot,flowers,roti,walnuts & mirror. On Navreh,at dawn,the family first looks at the Thaal & is wished Navreh Mubarak!
Pangong Tso is a mesmerising lake in the
#Ladakh
Himalayas at a height of 14,270 ft. It is 134 km long & 5km wide extending into Tibet.During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.The best part is to witness the myriad colours the lake changes thru d day!
Kashmir From My Lens: I would call this Srinagar Zero! The most prominent identity of the city. The Shankaracharya hill which has the Jyeshteswara temple of Shiva. As shot from Dal Lake
#Srinagar
#Kashmir
#India
Friends who requested for the Kashmiri Pandit style Roganjosh, here it is. This is how I learnt it from my mother.
For 1 kg meat : Heat mustard oil (be liberal).Add saboot masala- heeng, laung, dalchini stick, zeera, black cardamom, tej patta. After a couple of minutes, add meat.
Pandrethan Mandir is a Shiva shrine made by King Partha in the 10th CE. Lal Ded,the Shaivite saint & mystic of Kashmir was born in Pandrethan. It was founded by King Pravarsena & was the capital city of Kashmir in the 6th CE. Now, a part of Srinagar,the Badami Bagh Cantt is here.
Kashmir Great Lakes trek is the most beautiful trek in India. Itโs called a 3D IMAX movie watched live! And itโs equally tough too!
You climb rocky mountains with glaciers melting into bubbly streams, walk thru endless green meadows with colourful wild flowers all over d trail.
My son seems to have bragged a lot about Kashmiri food to his friends. I have a young guest from way down South who wanted to taste the cuisine from the very North. I hope I live upto the expectations set๐คทโโ๏ธ
#Kashmiris
Kashmir From My Lens : The twin lakes of Nundkol and Gangabal (Harmokh Ganga)at the base of Mt Harmokh, as seen from the top of a mountain pass called Zach Pass. The sight is ethereal & nothing but stunning. If you have had a more moving experience in Kashmir, show me.
#Kashmir
Just before dawn - the floating vegetable market at Dal Lake. Itโs Spring, so you see mostly radish, spring onions, lotus stem and some greens. Summer is a more abundant time for all fresh vegetables!
#Kashmir
#spring
Since when did Kashmiris value time? Some of them shamelessly wasted 30 yrs of their fellow Kashmirisโ time too. You can do some math and calculate the minutes!
Prime Minister Modiโs 20 minutes wasted in Punjab, in his luxurious car.
He wasted 18,38,880 minutes of people of J&K due to the worst political instability ever.
Mattan:As I stood in front of one of the houses(
#3
),staring at it & imagining how d owners wd have brought life to this home.Thatโs when,a couple wid a child on a scooter stopped & said that it was their house that I was looking at! They now lived in a transit camp in Vessu town.
@davidfrum
He is paying his respects to the Guru who was decapitated on Aurangzebโs orders, just like Christians even now observe Good Friday on Christโs crucifixion 2000 yrs ago!
Most of you would have heard about Kangir, the mobile heater of every Kashmiri. Life without this is impossible in winters.
This Kangri is special. A Pandit custom is that parents of newly married girl gift her a Kangir on her 1st Shivratri. This is mine, from many moons back.
When we go to Kashmir,we know tht no one wd really harm us.After all, we stay in d hotels there,eat in d restaurants,use d taxis & ponies, shop & return happily. So,d terrorist lobby has no qualms abt tht.Its only when we stake a claim to wht is OURS, does it disturb their plans!
When it comes to Kashmiri cuisine, people(non-K especially)usually go gaga over dishes like d Roganjosh & Gushtaba.Who wd hv heard of the humble Kalโee - lamb cooked in turmeric & fennel powder with a sound seasoning of asafoetida & garam masala. An essential in d Pandit cuisine!
Ashokaโs son Jaluka, in 220 BCE, built the original Shaivite temples Bhuteshvara, Jyestarudra & Muthas at Wangath around the holy spring of Naranag. The current structure was built by King Lalitaditya in 8 cent CE.
Naranag is beautiful. Yesterday was my 3rd time here
#Kashmir
Ragnya Mata is the presiding deity of Kashmir. She was first worshipped by Ravana on whose penance Shiva blessed him with the ever-presence of the Adi Shakti in his kingdom.But the abduction of Sita Mata angered the Goddess & she asked Hanuman to take her to present-day Kashmir.
I was on the Kashmir Great Lakes trek last week. Itโs definitely one of the most beautiful treks in India. You have tall mountains, snow, glaciers, gushing streams, vast green meadows dotted with wild flowers and a dozen emerald-hued lakes all along!
Gadsar Lake, 3rd Aug 2021
Pandrethan or Pani Mandir in Srinagar was built in the 6th cent.The exquisite Shiva temple is unique as itโs carved out of a single piece of stone. A big thank you to our Army for having given it life! Not only this but most temples from that era are being taken care of by them๐๐ป
Herath Mubarak! Happy Shivratri to all - to those celebrating today and to those doing so tomorrow.
Kashmiris have the puja today and a feast tomorrow, which we call Salaam!
#shivratri2021
#Kashmiris
As always, I have clicked a zillion pictures of Pahalgam๐คทโโ๏ธand surrounding areas this year too - some good, some ok. Will share a few with you over the next few days!
Hang in there!
#Pahalgam
#Anantnag
#Kashmir
On the Kashmir Great Lakes trek, we get to see Vishansar lake on Day 2 & Krishansar early next day after a short trek.Although,they sit quite close to each other, we see them together only later, when we reach the summit of Gadsar Pass, the highest pass on this trek, at 13800 ft.