Photos: Under lockdown, Kashmir trims its lavish weddings
Updated On Sep 18, 2019 10:36 AM IST
Authorities have eased the security restrictions in parts of the valley but tensions still run high amid a complete shutdown of businesses, public transport and educational institutions. Already in the grip of a decades-long insurgency, the heavily militarised region is no stranger to security crackdowns. But this time, even the usually buoyant wedding industry -- a major driver of Kashmir's economy -- is buckling under the strain, with hundreds of notices appearing in newspapers and on television in recent weeks, postponing or cancelling ceremonies and simpler affairs at the one’s going through.
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Updated on Sep 18, 2019 10:36 AM IST
A bride sits in her husband’s home following their marriage in Kashmir’s Baramulla. After a year-long countdown, Arshi Nisar’s wedding plans are in tatters, the Kashmiri bride-to-be fearing for her guests’ safety as a security and communications clampdown leaves residents on edge. Like thousands of families in the region, she resigned to an austere event, with no more than 40 guests in attendance -- if they are able to venture out of their homes. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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Updated on Sep 18, 2019 10:36 AM IST
Women sing at a marriage ceremony. The marketing manager had originally planned a three-day extravaganza, including a make-up session, music, and a huge canopy to accommodate more than 700 guests invited to partake in the traditional Kashmiri wazwan feast. “I grew up dreaming about a grand wedding but there is not much to celebrate because of the situation,” the 29-year-old told AFP. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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A Kashmiri shopkeeper displays wedding dresses at a market in Srinagar. The heavily militarised region is no stranger to security crackdowns. But this time, even the usually buoyant wedding industry -- a major driver of Kashmir’s economy -- is buckling under the strain, with hundreds of notices appearing in newspapers and on television in recent weeks, postponing or cancelling ceremonies. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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A vendor waits for customers at a stall with wedding garlands made from rupee notes at a market in Srinagar. In a status-conscious society famed for its hospitality, weddings have long served as a showcase for wealth and generosity, with guest lists regularly topping 1,500. “Families save for years or decades to splurge on weddings,” Bilal, who wanted to be identified only by his first name, told AFP. (Rouf Bhat / AFP)
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A groom is garlanded by relatives and friends before leaving for his bride's home in Kashmir's Baramulla. Parents start preparing for their child’s marriage almost immediately after birth, Bilal said. So when only 15% of the invited guests turned up for his brother’s wedding last month, “it was a heartbreak for the family,” he said. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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A cook prepares traditional dishes for a marriage ceremony. For others consumed by wedding preparations, the communications clampdown has made it near impossible to contact suppliers and event managers. Days before his sister Tehmina’s wedding, Muntazir, who declined to give his last name, was struggling to procure everything from a wedding bed to jewellery and clothing for her trousseau. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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Updated on Sep 18, 2019 10:36 AM IST
Chefs put together a traditional wazwan platter for a traditional meal at a wedding. Even hiring cooks and butchers was a challenge because of the communication blackout, he said. “I had placed an order for a bed and given clothes for stitching to the tailor. Both the stores are closed and there is no way to contact them,” the 41-year-old told AFP. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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Guests eat together from shared plates on a bed of rice at a "walima" feast for a traditional marriage ceremony in Kashmir's Baramulla. “Weddings are a once in a lifetime event,” Muntazir said. “As a brother I feel gutted by the thought that her wedding is devoid of the traditional colour.” (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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Guests look at a bride (C) with her face and body covered with a shawl sits in her new husband's home following their marriage. For bride-to-be Nisar, her September wedding to her boyfriend of five years came after a hard-fought battle with their parents to overcome resistance to the marriage. (Tauseef Mustafa / AFP)
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Updated on Sep 18, 2019 10:36 AM IST