A disastrous season leaves Kashmir’s saffron growers staring at empty fields and a fading legacy. This is the year Pampore’s purple turned pale. By Jahangeer Ganaie In the sun-baked plateau of Pampore, where autumn usually unfurls a purple-tinged carpet of saffron blossoms, despair has taken root instead. Growers in Kashmir’s famed saffron belt say 2025 […]
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Waves of Saffron, White and Green
By Ajaz Rashid The first light of morning touched the rippling surface of Dal Lake like a painter’s brush, turning its calm waters into molten gold. Houseboats bobbed gently in place, their wooden hulls whispering against the moorings as the breeze carried faint notes of drums, bugles, and patriotic songs from the boulevard. In the […]
The Longest Chill
In the heart of the Himalayas, the arrival of Chillai Kalan on December 21 marks more than just a date on the calendar; it signals the commencement of a forty-day trial of spirit and survival that defines the Kashmiri identity. This period of “Major Cold,” stretching until the end of January, is characterized by a […]
Gifts, Guard, And Geopolitics
India welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Kashmiri-infused state banquet and high-level talks aimed at reinforcing defence, energy and trade cooperation. By Sameer Ahmad Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day state visit to India concluded on Friday last week with a grand vegetarian state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Doon Chetin made with Kashmiri morels […]
Ladhoo Gears Up for Annual Urs of Sheikh ul Alam
The annual Urs in Ladhoo blends spirituality, tradition and Kashmir’s saffron season, creating a unique cultural moment. By Er Aausyf ibn Farooq As winter settles over the Valley and saffron fields glow in their late-autumn bloom, the village of Ladhoo Pampore in Pulwama is preparing for one of its most deeply rooted spiritual gatherings — […]
Kashmir’s Shift to a Concrete Jungle
Unregulated construction is swallowing Kashmir’s farmland, reshaping its landscape and future. By Ajaz Rashid The landscape of Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing a profound shift—one that is visible in the fast-rising concrete structures, disappearing paddy fields, and orchard land flattened to make way for shopping complexes and residential colonies. What was once a region defined […]
Harud: Kashmir’s Season of Colour, Memory, and Quiet Joy
Autumn in Kashmir is not merely a season—it’s a poem written in color, scent, and nostalgia. By Rayees Ahmad Kumar Autumn, the cherished “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” described by John Keats, sweeps through the Kashmir Valley as a period marked by extraordinary transformation and vibrant spectacle. Locally known as “Harud,” autumn breathes new […]
Autumn’s Magic in the Valley
By Mool Raj Kashmir Valley, a name that evokes beauty and serenity, remains one of the most enchanting landscapes in the world. With its lush green forests, snow-clad mountains, sprawling meadows, crystal-clear waters, cascading waterfalls, and countless natural springs, the valley stands as a living painting crafted by nature itself. Blessed with unmatched bounty, this […]
Insurance Hope for J&K’s Orchard Economy
By Ajaz Rashid The Jammu and Kashmir government’s recent announcement to extend crop insurance cover to apple, saffron, mango and litchi growers marks a significant step toward securing the region’s horticultural backbone. For a Union Territory where horticulture sustains nearly 35 lakh people and contributes around 8 percent to the GDP, this policy move signals […]
Six Years, One New Kashmir
By Chasfeeda Shah In Kashmir valleys where once the sounds of unrest echoed, a different kind of energy now buzzes through the air. It’s the energy of entrepreneurship, innovation, and dreams being turned into digital reality. Six years after the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as an unlikely startup success story, […]