Rajouri, Jan 18: Even as the work on Mughal road is being undertaken vigorously, the link between Kashmir and Rajouri and Poonch seems to fructify into cultural bonding as the revival of this project has given impetus to establishment of marital relations.
 For the first time in 60 years, a baraat from Chandimarh in Poonch crossed over to Shopian with a groom and his family making concerted effort to get Kashmiri speaking bride for revival of culture in border district.
 The baraat of Reyaz Ahmad Manhaas son of Muhammad Yousuf of Chandimarh landed in Shopian via Mughal road to enjoy Kashmiri wazwan and get linked to Valley.
 Reyaz’s uncle Tufail Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that he was instrumental in helping the families to unite and marry Reyaz with Shehnaz Akhter of Zawora in Shopian.
 Tufail said the Mughal road would connect the districts politically, culturally and linguistically.
 Umar Maqbool, a baraati, said it took them only four hours to reach Shopian from Chandimarh . “We were welcomed with Wan Wun and it was delightful to see people of Kashmir so hospitable.”
 A resident of Budhal, Rajouri, Farooq Ahmad Inqilabi, said most of the marriage proposals were being shelved due to travel between the two parts of the state.
 “We are looking forward to strengthen our relations with people of Kashmir,” he said.
 The spokesperson of Muslim Conference, Pir Panchal range, Ummar Arshad Malik said the people of Rajouri and Poonch had faced hardships by getting dissociated from Kashmir.
 “The road connectivity would enhance human resource of our districts. It would also help us in highlighting our issues properly now.”
 “Any delay in completion of the Mughal road would be cultural and political murder as people of Rajouri and Poonch would be isolated from Kashmir as they had been in 60 years,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST