Kashmiri Pheran showcased in New York city
Srinagar: After showcasing beautiful Kashmiri wear on thebeaches of California last year, the evergreen pheran reached New York thissummer as Kashmiri girls donning ethnic wear appeared in a photoshoot in New YorkCity with a theme of Kashmiri State of mind.
The photo shoot was the brain child of Kashmiri-Britishblogger Sumaya Teli, whose last year california also grabbed headlines. Teliposted dozens of pictures of the shoot on her blog, “It’s the city of a millionsnapshots and a thousand fashion editorials but where Haute Couture has beenphotographed on the lakes of the Dal in Srinagar Kashmiri Embroidery has neverbeen captured in a photo-shoot on the streets of New York,” she wrote.
She also writes about her desire, how she wished that someday she was spotted in traditional Kashmiri wear by hugely famous social mediaphotographer Brandon of Humans of New York fame. It would have pushed Kashmiridress on global limelight, but the chance encounter never happened and she hadto take matters in her own hands. “Well, I never did bump into Brandon but thatdesire to exhibit these gorgeous pieces of traditional embroidery worn within amodern framework-put the Pheran on the map of New York City so to speak was adeep one.”
“I always knew I had something too precious and valuable tolet go of in the worn tilla threads that scratched my face every time mygrandmother lovingly took my head to her chest in one of her epic hugs,” shewrites.
For the shoot, Sumaya teamed up with three models wearingPherans with Tilla Embroidery. These included Suemyra Shah, a media andentertainment lawyer, Mehrunnisa Wani, a professor at the City University ofNew York and writer at Forbes and Faiqa Anbreen, an aerospace engineer.
The clothes were sourced from the Hamzaara label by KashmiriNew Yorker Nousheen Afzal who has started this business as a way of makingKashmiri clothes available to Kashmiri and non-Kashmiri clientele in the USA.
Mian Altaf releases Zafar Iqbal’s Gojri book ‘Majboori’
Srinagar: Former Minister and prominent Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmad on Sunday released Zafar Iqbal’s latest Gojri book ‘Majborri’in a event was organised by Adbi Sangat Kashmir- an organisation working fordevelopment of tribal languages .
The programme was held at Seminar Hall of J&K Cultural Academy at Lalmandi, thisafternoon .
Dr Javaid Rahi , Chief Editor J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Noted Gojriwriter Ch. Qaisar –ud- Din Qaisar, President Adbi Sangat Ch Salam Din Bajad, were in the presidium.
Mian Altaf Ahmed, in his address appreciated the author ofthe book Ch. Zafar Iqbal of KillarPulwama for his outstandingcontributions to Gojri theatre and play writing genre. He stated that the playsincluded in the book reflect cultural heritage and ethos of tribal society, besides enriching Gojrilanguage.
Terming Gojri as an important language of State with a lotof literature he impressed upon Govt especially State Board of SchoolEducation to include Gojri language in schools curriculum in 11th and12th as one of the languages of the state like Kashmir, Dogri and Ladakhi.
Qaisar ud Din Qaisar in his address stated that Gojri is mother of Gujarati, Rajasthani and Urdu. He impressed upon cultural organisations to hold more such purposeful event in thestate to develop Gojri. He said congratulated Adbi Sangat Kashmir and Zafar Iqbal for contributing a book in Gojriwhich will add to play writing in Gojri language.
Earlier Ch Rafaqat Gazi, read out a paper in Gojri about thebook.
Photography exhibition highlights traditional culture of Kashmir
Srinagar: renowned photographer Mukhtar Ahmad incollaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages(JKAACL) Department of Tourism on Sunday organised a photo exhibition here onSunday to raise fund for Leprosy Hospital.
Though the theme of the exhibition was based on age-oldculture and tradition of Kashmir, most of which is known to elder generation,but it attracted a large number of curious youths who wanted to know more aboutthe subject. They were also seen enquiringabount the techniques involved inphotographing such a sensitive subject.
“In my 35-year-old career, I have learned a lot ofskills which I wish to share with budding photographers. My aim is to make themaware of the new developments in the field of photography. Also, they must knowphotography is not just about clicking pictures from phone, but to process thephotos and get them to the market also comes under the procedure,” Ahmed,organiser and photographer, told ANI.
People believe that such unconventional exhibitions needmore attention to not just inspire everyone for choosing photography as aserious profession but to also narrate an untold story of a place.
“I believe more promotion is needed for such unconventionalexhibitions, which showcases the history of Kashmir with a modern touch. Forexample, at this photography exhibition there are so many shots of villages,paddy fields, spices and down town’s architecture which gives a glimpse of ourculture that we have almost forgotten,” said Hurain, one of the visitors.
“Also, such exhibitions are like an inspiration foryouths which proves that photography can be taken as a full-time thing (job)and not just part-time. Here every photo depicts professionalism in it, howevery emotion and random moments have been caught on the camera, it’s all veryinspiring,” she added.
Other than youths, the exhibition also garnered theattention of local and non-local visitors who enthusiastically purchased someattractive portrait depicting the culture, heritage, landscape and village lifeof Kashmir and Ladakh.
Vole Asenawath, book on satirical articles released
SRINAGAR: Vole Asenawath, a book on collection of humoursand satirical articles written by Yousuf Gulshan was released in a functionorganised by ‘Karam Buland Folk Theatre’ in collaboration with the Departmentof Information and Public Relations at J&K Academy of Art, Culture andLanguages at Lal Mandi here.
Director Information, Gulzar Ahmad was chief guest on theoccasion while as noted poets Zarief Ahmad Zarief and Dr. Shad Ramzan were theguests of honour.
Gulzar Ahmad appreciated the writer and called him thetreasure in the field of humour writing. He said that Yousuf Gulshan has adistinction of selecting unique characters and plots for his satirical worksand tries his pen in both poetry as well as verse.
Zarief Ahmad Zarief while addressing the gatheringhighlighted importance of humour writing in present day world and said thatwriters like Yousuf Gulshan deserve appreciation at all levels for his style ofwork.
The function was attended by Abdul Ahad Farhad, SatishVimal, Ayoub Sabir, Nisar Naseem and other well-known writers, poets andbroadcasters of the valley.
Mushaira, book release function held in Banihal
RAMBAN: Abdul Rahim Amma Foundation (ARAF) on Mondayorganised a Multilingual Mushaira and a book release function at GovernmentDegree College (GDC) Banihal.
Prominent writers and poets hailing from different parts ofstate including Ayub Sabir, Manshoor Banhali, Dr. Khalid Rasool, Mohammad IqbalKhan and Prof. Shahjahan Ganai presidedover the proceedings of Mushaira.
During the Mushaira various poets including Zahir Banhali,Ghulam Hassan, Mohammad Rafi, Bahar Ahmed Bahar, Showkat Ahmed and youngbudding poets recited their Shers (verses) and Ghazals in Urdu, Kashmiri andother local languages for promoting the local dialects.
Meanwhile “Khaka Nigari” Azadi Se Pehle- Azadi Ke Baad anUrdu book authored by Dr. Khalid Rasool was also released on the occasion topromote Urdu language.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Khalid informed that said bookwould be teach to the students of 2nd semester of graduation course in thecolleges of Kashmir as well as Jammu University.
A colourful cultural programme was also presented by theartists, which was appreciated by the audience. Meanwhile writers and poetswere felicitated and certificates and trophies were also awarded to theperformers by the department.