Samihita Kaw (ProPoor volunteer) married Shagun Bhat at a “farm” wedding (fireworks and all) in New Delhi on 9th February 2007. The following pictures show the ceremony of putting on Samihita’s head-dress in the Kashmiri (Hindu) tradition.
Grandmothers singing during the ceremony
Father’s sisters take the lead in preparing the bride for the head-dress
Hair is braided into two pigtails
Ornaments are attached to the hair
The scull cap is fitted
An ornament is placed under the cap
Ornament and cap in place
White, beaded headcover placed over the scull cap
Glitter-covered paper folded
Glitter-covered paper placed over the headcover, around the head
Gold-beaded band placed over the glitter-covered paper
Wedding head-dress placed over everything
The finished product
Samihita and her brother
The groom? That’s another story…
Beautiful pictures! I am from a small town in Northern California and think I knew Samihita from childhood. Even if it’s not the same Sami I knew when I was younger in San Jose, it was amazing to see the intricate process!
Dear L,
Thanks for your comment. I believe it probably is the same Samihita, since she used to live and is now back in San Jose. Samihita should be getting back to the States about now – do get in touch!
Yoomi & Mark,
Thank you for coming to our wedding! It was great to see you there!
These are nice pictures! (It is actually the father’s sisters that do the hair. Those are my Dad’s sisters.) Quite well documented!
Will talk to you soon!
Best,
Samihita.
A beautiful bride … I’d expect nothing less of Samihita. Thanks for sharing!
There is nothing like kashmiri culture in these pictures. The dress of the women and everything is just hindu indian culture. Remove kashmir from the title.
You’re clearly delusional and full of hate.You do NOT represent Kashmiri Muslims. Learn something from Ghulam Nabui Azad and other Muslim politicians who are level-headed.Read the response that I have written to one of your tirades…below. Enjoy.
hey who ru to lecture us on to remove kashmiri culture?? go back across the border where people like u belong. ur a nuisance to the peace loving kashmiri people.people like u dont even have a place in pakistan. ur being treated as mohajirs. u should be thankful we let u live here. now ur own people are being killed by terrorists and why should we sacrifice our armymen to guard people like u when they dont have the decency to acknowledge it. u should be left on ur own . u people say panun kashmir panun kashmir . i say go and take it in ur ass . when u will suffer u will know the importance of being indian. people like u are like a parasite who cling on the body and then suck blood.becoz of people like u muslim brothers have a bad name in the world. so shut ur trap and sit in ur hole where ur writing from becoz thats the only thing u can do.
Muhammad Usman Butt seems to live in a fool’s paradise. He thinks ‘Kashmiri Culture’ is only putting a “Qasaba” on the heads of brides.
hi Samihita…
really nice pictures..
i was brousing google and found your pics, for kashmiri hindu contemporary bride. actually i study in Pearl Academy of Fashion (new delhi) and had a asignment on kashmiri bride ‘n ur pics gave a real help.. thanx sooo much..
i want to know more things about ur wedding can u mail me by tomorro…
thanx sweeti..
Mitika
I certainly agree with you Mr Daya Krishen Ji.
Dear Muhammad Usman Butt,
It is fanatics like you who bring bad name to us and have kept us in a state of conflict for so many decades. You forget that most of us at some point in the history were Hindu or lived in a way that is termed as Hindu in the recent history. When adopted Islam we adapted it to our existing traditions and values. We were not ‘historyless people’; we enriched Islam with our culture and traditions and added Islam in another fragrance in our valley. We are not Arab, Persian or Central Asian and we will never be. We see our being labled as closer to those cultures in the name of Islam as an imposition and an effort to undermine our tolerant, diverse, peace-loving identity. Kashmiris have independent identities and religions and also something that is common to all of us and it is that common that makes us Kashmiri. If you can’t even see that common leave alone be proud of that common, you are nothing but a blot on what we call Kashmiriyat.
Nisa you cannot be a kashmiri muslim, you must be a hindu or if you claim to be muslim then you are either a munafiq or a hindu from your heart. Kashmiri hindus are renegades and are a black spot on the face of kashmiri ethnicity, that is why we got rid of them. Even when the kashmiris were hindu or bhuddists or whatever which I do not care about, they were still a distinct people with their distinct language, dress and culture. But these modern hindus of kashmir so-called pundits are just race traitors, they follow central indian hindu culture and dress like those flithy indians to get their sympathy. Pundits have no right to call themselves kashmiri better call themselves flithy indians.
Beautiful pictures of Samihita,showing a bit of Kashmiri Hindu Woman as a bride.
I, a Gujarati came in a little touch with Kashmiri culture through these pictures. By the way, what is meanng of “samihita” ?
Nisa, Usman is right,I dont think you are a Muslim.
Can;t believe that you have the arrogance to claim that your religion holds all the answers…learn to respect all other religions. it will do you good. Just remember, that all religions basically end up with the same claim- that there is a creator whom we should respect and love…the various religions just take different paths to get there.
Excellent photographs. Yes Kashmir has great tradition and is the Crown of India. It is Central Asia also with the purity of the Aryan Race. Though much effort has been made in the past to Semitize (make them Jewish-Arab, The Jews and Arabs are cousins and children of Abraham), this has failed and will surely fail in the future.
India like the U.S. is a great democracy and a mosaic and not a melting pot, though our culture is the same (Aryan Culture) from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. So Kashmiri Brahmins like all Indians must uphold their Aryan values. The word Aryan is Indian and genetically Kashmiris like most Indians are pure Aryans. No amount of propaganda can change this.
Best of luck to this couple who have maintained their great Indian traditions.
I write this as a Kashmiri. The Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir have
been very close to one another in the past. We still have bonds. India is a great democracy and a superpower thus Kashmir will always be a part of India.
The True Story of Our People, no one can change this. They can try but will fail. See Below.
Kashmir’s Contribution to Indian Culture
by Dr. ( Mrs. ) Bimla K. Munshi
Some scholars in the Centre of Central Asian Studies of Kashmir University are probing in the direction of establishing the thesis that First man appeared in the Kashmir Valley. This has reference also to the Burzahom excavation and the remains of the so called pit-dwellers found there. All scientists agree that the earliest Homo Erectus named as Ramapithecus Panjabicus appeared in the Northern parts of India situated just south of Kashmir. In my opinion, all these facts point to the inescapable conclusion that Kashmir is the original home of the Aryans and that Aryan and Vedic Culture spread out to other parts of the country from Kashmir Valley itself. We should not forget that there was a time when Gandhar Pradesh ( present Afganistan and N. W. F. P. of Pakistan ) included Kashmir also. There are certain symbols and sacred things of Hinduism which were and are, found in Kashmir only. I mean to say that Kashmir Valley is the only place where all of them are found. Some of them are: Srichakra Fish ( Sacred as Matsyavatora and worshipped here even now ) Lotus ( connected with Brahma, Vishnu and Lakshmi ) Bhoorjva ( Bhoj-Patra on which ancient scriptures were etched ), Devadaru Tree, Kesar, Kustoori, Snow, The Snow white God Shiv ( Him-Rund-Endu-Karpur-Varna ), Mountains, Water, Nag and Sarp, (not only in Humun form ), Som ( it is being proved now that it was found in the mountains of Kashmir towards Sharada teerth ), Kesar Dhatura ( Used in Shiv Worship) and Kasturi these all have an essential place in our ancient traditions and also in present religious rituals.
The boat of Manu, when it was floundering in the floods of the Khand-Pralaya had found its final resting ground at a place called Manoravsarpan, which is situated in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Manu was the Adi Purush from whom sprang the modern human race and Kashmir was the place where the first human of the present civilisation originated.
The seals of the Sindh-Valley Civilisation have been deciphered and it has now been proved that they contain the picture of the Aryan God Shiv in Makhanasan Mudra. Foreign scholars have been trying to squeeze the Vedic, Ramayan and Mahabharat periods between 1500 B.C., (when Sindh Valley Civilisation was destroyed) to 600 B. C., to prove that the movement of Aryans had been from the west to the east, the time of Buddha ( 600 B. C. ) a historically confirmed fact. If the Sindh Valley civilisation is a vedic civilisation and/or it was destroyed earlier than 1500 B. C. then the movement of Aryans will be proved to have been from the East (from India ) to the west ( to Iran and other parts of Europe ). The creation of Vedas, their reduction into writing and the spread of their oral tradition, the spread of Aryan Culture to the eastern parts of India, the time-lag between the Vedic and Ramayana period, the Ramayan and Mahabharat periods, the Mahabharat and Buddha periods and the gradual evolution (or degeneration) of the Vedic language into Sanskrit, and of Sanskrit into Pali could not have taken place during only 900 years ( between 1500 B. C. to 600 B. C. ). Thus, when it has been proved that the Sindh Valley Civilisation is post Vedic ( not pre-vedic as some foreign scholars have been trying to project ), the movement of the Aryans had surely been from the east to the west and their original home was Kashmir. It is a different matter that more than 80% of the people of the Aryan stock in Asia are now muslims and they inhabit the areas of Kashmir, Pakistan, Afganistan and Iran.
There is another point of importance. The Jews who migrated from the city of Or to their present country of Israel in about 4000 B. C. have a mention of this movement in their scriptures but nowhere in the Vedas is a mention that the Aryan had come from anywhere outside India.
The Kashmiri language which is the only Apabhransha ( degenerate form ) of the Vedic language ( not of Sanskrit ) also proves that the original home of the Aryans was this sacred valley of Kashmir of noble traditions.
hey muslima and mr usman bhatt.its high time u stop wid all dis.otherwise such fanaticism will end in destruction as well u r no far.and people like u shud never enter into healthy discussions.sorry fr bieng crude buh it was high time dat ppl like u shud b answered wid no respect.
I am Nigerian and was fascinated by this dress. In Nigeria we are taught about the Aryan origin of the Indian people. The story of a great flood also eaxists in Africa and many other continents. I learnt something for the Aryans the first man is Manu, for us the Ibos and Hausas of Nigeria the first man is the Semitic man Adam, from whom the Arabs and Jews have originated. Also Since Judaism, Christianity and Islam have Semitic (and not Aryan) prophets we accept Adam as the first man in the divine manner. But in traditional (Pre-Christian and Islamic period) African culture, the first man is Kintu, Zoa, Garang, Abuk, etc. depending on the region of Africa.
I plan to visit different regions of India, including Kashmir.
hi i am presently in india. i am dying to buy dejhor but dont know where to buy it. can you please be kind enough to send me phone number and address as to where i can get them.. regards
you can buy them in Jammu….they might sell them in Kashmiri stores in Delhi/Mumbai as well, but am not sure.
my email id is can_2281@hotmail.com
Dear Brothern,
Please go through the Books of History, if you will just turn the pages you will get to know that the most ancient Vibrant and deep rooted Culture in the World over is that of Kashmir, Even Kalhan’s Rajtarangni is an Eye opener for all those who are of the myth that Kashmiri hindus .Dear brother Please update your knowledge and please dont put such an irrelevent stuff in this blog again as it will land you in an unnecessary Controversy….. Better get yourself updated, We can even help you out in this regard….. if you are aware of Shahi Hamdhan Then you might be truly aware of Lalleshwari…. Thanks for the Critics as it gives chance for others to go thorough the Books of History or manuscripts .
The problem with you so-called pundits is that you are fond of history which has not significance in modern kashmir. This kalhan Rajtringni is just a garbage for looser like hindu pundits, why should kashmiri muslims be interested in a so-called history book written by a fanatic hindu Kalhan and which is full of fairy tales and other absurd garbage. We kashmiri muslims are interested in Present and in issues that are affecting us now a days , certainly not in that rajtringi garbage written by that moron Kalhan.
the only moron here is YOU……
I hail from Alemania and am a student of anthropology (interest India), thus was intrigued by the wedding headdress. I was in India at a Kashmiri Brahmin wedding. I assume this headdress is native to Kashmir region for several millennia. I have been studying dresses of people and observe a small difference in the dresses of traditional Kashmiri Hindu and Muslim head dresses, this probably came in with the advent of Islam in Kashmir.
Yes all is Aryan in Kashmir and nothing of Semitic (Jewish-Arab), origin except the religion (islam) of the the majority of people who are now Muslims. Judaism and Islam are similar religions and have common Semitic origin and common culture and common names, thus many Muslims in Kashmir have Semitic (Jewish-Arab) names. Also Hebrew and Arabic both Semitic languages are also similar languages and carry many common words. Example Abba (Father both in Arabic and Hebrew) and Khosa (vessel or cup in both Hebrew and Arabic). In Sanskrit Father is Pitar and a Cup is Copana. Kashmiri language is an Aryan language but has picked up Semitic words after Islam came into this region. I am told even at present the language spoken by traditional Hindus (of the priestly caste) in Kashmir has no Semitic words and remains mainly a purely Aryan language of the Dardic family.
Many of my countrymen find the Kashmiri Brahmins, the Kalash People (indigenouspeople.net/chitral.htm) and the Zoroastrians to be a captivating group of people. I am told that the traditional Zoroastrians a highly educated group of people often throw out people who marry outside their group so do the traditional Kalash and traditional Indians, this seems to be a characteristic of these people. I do not blame these people for such an approach as even the most liberal societies do not like the concept of a mongrel progeny in their midst. While It is impossible for any one to know with certainty from where the Aryans came from but the first mention of them surely is in India and Iran.
All I can say for sure is that Muhammad Usman Butt is not a Kashmiri but surely a foreigner.
I am a Kashmiri Muslim and know my history, before we became Muslims we were Hindus. My name Tantrey comes from the Sanskrit word Tantrin. Check what that means in Sanskrit and ancient Kashmiri. Sanskrit and ancient Kashmiri are very closely related languages. Also the Rajataringini is one of the best historical works ever written. This is accepted by all genuine experts who are not politically motivated.
The Kashmiri Muslims and their Hindu brothers have lived as brothers (which they are) for ages.
glad to know that there are kashmiri muslims brothers like you left in the valley. Keep up with you thimking and please spread the message, especially to the youngsters who are being brainwashed by the bearded mullahs. My regards to you and the rest of the Muslim community in Kashmir. I can’t wait till peace hopefully will come back to the valley and we can once again live in harmony. Am looking forward to the “Khandar Saal” and “Wazwan and sipping Kehwa by the Dal Lake:) May god be with you always.
Mushtaq Tantrey who are you to give certificate to someone about being kashmiri or non-kashmiri. When did I ask a munafiq like you to comment on me. I will say to a traitor like you to shut your ugly mouth.
If you are so proud of your hindu roots, then better do not call yourself a muslim. You would say my surname is also of hindu origin, then I would say no my surname is of kashmiri origin, since hindu and kashmiri are not synonym. A kashmiri is just a kashmiri, more proud of his land than these piss drinking cowrad hindu brahmins. How I should define myself is upon me, you are not invited to give your unnecessary comment. If you were in front of me, I would have slapped on your face, how dare you to give a comment on my ethnicity. If you like kalhan so much then better become his follower than calling yourself muslim.
And unless we kashmniri muslims devise new distinct indigneous surnames for us, we would have to rely on old ones.
I am a Nigerian and like debate. I think Usman is not a Kashmiri but trying to create problems between different religions. Nigeria also has a Muslim population I am a Ibo and proud of this and we live in harmony with our Muslim brothers of the Yoruba tribe
Usman must be physically weak, that is why he is talking of violence. A strong confident person would just be polite.
Also I know history. Kashmiris before Islam came into India were Hindus, the Tajiks now Muslims were Zoroastrians and Buddhists before Islam came into Central Asia. We at AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, have some excellent teachers.
Amaka niggers like you do not deserve my attention, Black people are scum of earth just like black dravidian indians.
I think the game is over. Kashmir has always been a part of India and is a part of India. India is a great democracy and a friend of all democracies including the USA led by the brilliant President Bush. Thus poorly educated people like Usman Butt (who claims to be a Kashmiri, which I can tell you surely he is not one) are frustrated. All religions and people in India are and will be treated on equal footing. There is no such thing as a Dravidian Race. Dravid just means South. Besides more than 72% Indians in India are pure Aryans, (no power on this globe can change this, with all their propaganda and fake data) this includes every region of India. By the Dravid Race (erroneously) is meant mainly the tribal people. These tribal people are great people and some are also great fighters, like the Bhils. Maharana Pratap and his brilliant General Hakim Khan Sur were aided by the Bhils in defeating Akbar.
No power on this planet can take on 1.2 billion Indians. No one can fight our Rajputs, Jats, Nairs of Kerala, Coorgis, Yadavs, Gujjars, Sainis, Lavanas, Ramgarhias, Mushabis, Khatiks, and other Indians and hope to win. See also the Victoria Crosses won by Indians, these were given by the British. Indians are the best fighters in the world! No sane person can dispute this. History has already made this evident So weak Usman best of luck!
Also the Africans like all human beings are loved by most Indians in the tradition of India.
Bhayyaland Professor Rahul Mishra , you are chief of ugly dravidians, 72 % of indians are aryan , my foot, I am sure not even 1 % of indians are aryan, you indians are all black ugly piss drinking dravidians.
the only person who is ugly here is you.
My family is kashmiri since indefinite time, I represent the blood of kashmir, hindu pundits on the other hand represent piss of kashmir.
You’re an absolute ASS…no wonder your last name is BUTT (lol). How perfectly you were named ….hahahahahaha….And yes, you can hold on to the surname of Butt.I believe that you want to “devise indigenous names for Muslims”….We Pandits do not want that surname (lmao). It suits someone like you perfectly.
I imagine Usman Butt as a specimen not from Kashmir Valley but from some other region other than the Indian subcontinent. Usman I guess lacks an education and manners. All other people on this forum have demonstrated manners. Nigeria is the power of Africa and India of Asia. Also Mahatmna Gandhi reflected India and all in Africa love Ganndhi. The greatest man of Africa Nelson Mandela learnt from Gandhi.
Usman I have travelled much of the globe and find many street urchins like you all over. No one cares or listens to them. The Indians (mostly they are the purest Aryans, Aryan Race in reality has brown to light colour, see Indian and Iranian people today. See a pure Aryan, example Iranian President Ahmedijad, a pure Aryan)
and us the Africans have manners, civilization and culture. The Black Race of Africa is kind, tough and pretty.
This is my answer to you Usman, after this I shall not waste my energy on a Doltish Person like you. In the meanwhile see the meaning of Doltish in the Cambridge Dictionary.
whr is kashmir in it……….
the picture shows the culture of the KASHMIRI Pandit community. There is much more to the Kashmiri community than just going out in Jalloos and screaming Allah Ho Akbar at the drop of a hat.
Great photographs! Though frankly I would have liked to see more descriptive photographs also in the native dress of Pheron. Indeed the KPs, as we know them, are a remarkable community who have survived while maintaining their great Indian traditions and not compromising their high values.
You all might enjoy this article written in the 19th century.
THE VALLEY OF KASHMIR – RACES AND TRIBES (MAIN)
Walter R. Lawrence
Excerpt: ‘THE VALLEY OF KASHMIR’ by Walter R. Lawrence
It is a generally accepted fact that up to about the beginning of the fourteenth century the population of the valley was Hindu, and that about the middle and end of the century the mass of the people was converted to Islam, through the efforts of Shah-i-Hamadan and his followers and the violent bigotry and persecution of king Sikandar the Iconoclast. Tradition affirms that the persecution of the Hindus was so keen that only eleven families of Hindus remained in the valley. Their descendants are known by the name of Malmas, as distinguished from the fugitives and the Hindus of the Deccan, who came to Kashmir later on and are known as the Banamas. Some historians, however, state the Malmas Hindus to be the descendants of Kashaf, the saviour of the valley, and that the Banamas Brahmans were foreigners, who came from other countries. The Hindus who now live in Kashmir are, with a few exceptions, of the Brahman caste, and though tradition points to the fact that the Levite Brahmans were a powerful and numerous body, exerting great influence over the country and its rulers, there is frequent mention of the fighting class, and it is obvious that a large majority of the old Hindus must have been agricultural Jats of the Vaisya division. There are now no traces of the Jats among the Hindus of Kashmir. But there are still Khattris in Srinagar, known as Bohras and engaged in trade, who are cut off from communion with the Khattris of the Panjab, and there are certain Musalman tribes who trace their origin to Khattri ancestors.
BRAHMANS
The Brahmans of Kashmir, commonly known as Pandits, are 60,316 in number, of whom 28,695 live in Srinagar and the towns. The rest are scattered about in the villages and are for the most part engaged in agriculture. The Pandits divide themselves into three classes in Kashmir: the astrologer class (Jotish), the priest class (Guru or Bachabat), and the working class (Karkun). The priest class do not intermarry with either of the other classes, partly because they are regarded as divine and cut off from mankind, and partly because the laity abhor their practice of accepting the apparel of deceased Hindus. But the Jotish and Karkun Pandits intermarry. The Jotish Pandits are learned in the Shastras and expound them to the Hindus, and they draw up the calendars in which prophecies are made as to the events of the coming year. The priest class perform the rites and ceremonies of the Hindu religion. The vast majority of the Pandits belong to the Karkun class and have usually made their livelihood in the employment of the State. But as State employment became harder to obtain and the numbers of the Pandits increased, the Brahmans of Kashmir sought other occupations, and many of them are in business, while others work as cooks, bakers, confectioners, and tailors. Briefly, it may be said that a Pandit may follow any trade or occupation except those of the cobbler, potter, corn-friar, porter, boatman, carpenter, mason, or fruit-seller. Pandits have been known to adopt the profession of acting and music, and a Pandit now in my employment was once a cavalry soldier in the army of His Highness the Maharana of Oodeypore. In 1894 many pandits were working as daily labourers on the river embankments. As time goes on these intelligent and quick-witted people will no doubt take to new occupations. But at present the Karkun Pandit regards the pen as his natural destiny, and though many have taken to agriculture and many more are looking to land as a means of employment and subsistence, they would infinitely prefer to spend their lives as clerks in some office. The Pandits of the villages consider it no degradation to follow the plough and to carry manure; but the city Pandit, who has not severed himself from the literary atmosphere of the capital, is inclined to look down upon the Brahman agriculturist, and though he will take a wife from the villages he will not, if a man of any position, permit his daughter to marry into a village family. At the present time no Pandit serving out of Srinagar would dream of taking his wife and family with him. In Kashmir, as in other countries, a man’s occupation is the chief test of his social position, and it is quite possible that as agriculture becomes more profitable and popular, and as life in the city becomes harder and meaner, posterity may see the position reversed, and the Brahman of the village declining to give his daughter in marriage to the Srinagar Pandit. The future of the city Pandits is a matter of some anxiety. They have not the keen trading instinct of the natives of the Panjab, and may neglect the chances of commerce which easier communications with India should now offer. They are extremely conservative and short-sighted, and cannot believe that the old system, under which every adult Pandit had a finger in the collection of revenue, has passed away. They are deeply attached to their country, and though Kashmiri Pandits have risen to distinction in India, the large number of unemployed Brahmans of Srinagar will not seek service in the Panjab while it is possible to eke out a bare subsistence in the valley. Every city Pandit is sedulous for the education of his children, and in Srinagar this, thanks to the free schools of the State and the church of England Mission, can be easily acquired. I have had over 500 Pandits trained in mensuration, and the men who have taught them state that they are much quicker than the Panjabis. Their weak point is arithmetic. The Pandits are a handsome race of men, with fine, well-cut features, small hands and feet, and graceful figures. Their women are fairer than those of the Panjab, they are distinctly good-looking, and show more signs of refinement and breeding than the Musalmanis. The Hindu children are extremely pretty.
The Pandits are broken up into numerous gotras, or tribal divisions, and though the name of the gotra is repeated seven times by the Pandit as he performs his daily ablutions, the outside world rarely hears it mentioned, and the Pandits are known by their Gram, or family appellation. There are eighteen known gotras among the Levite Brahmans and 103 among the other Brahmans in Kashmir. In one gotra there may be many Krams, as the following instance will show. Among the Malmas gotras is one known as Paldeo Waasgarge, and this gotra embraces families belonging to the following Grams, or tribal subdivisions: – SopuriPandit, Mala, Poot, Mirakhur, Kadlabauj, Kokru, Bangru, Bakaya, Khashu, Kichlu, Misri, Khar, and Mam. Marriage is forbidden within the gotra, and a man of the Sopuri-Pandit subdivision cannot take a wife from the maidens of the Paldeo Wasgarge gotra, nor can he marry into the gotras of his mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother. Among the Banamas Pandits there is a gotra known as the Dattatrye, and from this gotra have sprung the great families of Kol and others less
known, such as the Nagari, Jinse, Jalali, Watal, Neka, Sultan, Ogra, Amin, Moja, Bamjai, Dont, Tota, Sabin, Kissu, Manslal, Singari, Rafij, Balu and Darabi. As will be afterwards shown when discussing the tribes of the Musalmans, the Kram is often the relic of a nickname applied to the ancestor of the subdivision. Thus Sopuri-Pandit points to the fact that the ancestor came from Sopur; Kokru means fowl; Bakaya signifies that the ancestor formed one of a very numerous class in Kashmir, t he revenue defaulter; Khar suggests that the ancestor was connected with the iron trade; Sultan, that the family had close relations with one of the first line of Musalman kings, and so on.
Among the leading Krams may be mentioned the following names: -
Tikku, Razdan, Kak, Munshi, Mathu, Kachru, Pandit, Sipru, Bhan, Zitshu, Raina, Dar, Fotadar, Madan, Thusu, Wangnu, Muju, Hokhu, and Dulu. Of these the members of the Dar family have probably been the most influential, though proverbs suggest that their influence has not been beneficial. The Kashmiri Pandits will not intermarry with the Brahmans of India. It is said that in Raja Seh Dev’s time a Musalman in the disguise of a Pandit mixed with the Kashmiri Brahmans and learnt their Sanskrit lore. On this being discovered the Pandits, in order to guard against similar frauds, decided to have no intercourse with foreign Brahmans. The village people always speak of the Pandits as ‘Bat’.
The other Hindus of the valley are not numerous. The Bohras or Khattris of Srinagar intermarry among themselves and are engaged in trade and shop-keeping. It is said that in former days some of them were admitted to caste among the Pandits, but at present, though they have adopted the customs and rites of the Brahmans, they enjoy no caste fellowship with them. With the two exceptions that the Bohra woman wears noserings and discards the girdle round her waist, a Bohra of either sex cannot be distinguished from the city Brahman.
The Sikhs of the valley, who were originally Brahmans from the Panjab, have been described in another chapter. They can be distinguished at once from the Brahmans of Kashmir by their method of wearing the hair, by the absence of the effeminate gown among the men, and by their accent, which it always conveys the impression of being less refined and educated than that of the Pandits. The Sikhs are chiefly found in the Trahal Pargana, Krihun, and Hamal. They are fair cultivators of dry crops, but are far behind the Kashmiri Musalmans in rice cultivation. They look to service as their chief means of livelihood, and in former days were enlisted in the Nizamat regiment, which was maintained for the collection of revenue. At present they obtain service in the State as chaprasis, but they are likely to find the Pandits awkward rivals. They are men of slight build, not bad-looking, and often have light grey eyes. Very ignorant and troublesome tenants, they invariably quarrel with the Musalman Kashmiris, and not infrequently among themselves.
The Mian Rajputs, to which tribe the rulers of Kashmir belong, are found chiefly in the Deosar Tahsil, around the foot of the mountains to the south of the valley, where they have been granted jagirs, or land free of revenue. Formerly they rendered service to the State, but of late years they have remained idle, and this idleness in telling on their character and appearance. Though they still look smart and clean in comparison with the Kashmiri Musalman, there is a great difference between the Mian Rajput of Deosar and his brethren in the Dogra country, and it is to be hoped that the State will find this fine race of men some congenial employment. It is doubtful whether they really like Kashmir, but they seem able to stand the rigour of the winter climate, and some of the Mians have attained to a great age. They have adopted the Kashmir style of architecture, but the house and courtyard are screened from the public view, as the Rajputs are very careful about the privacy of their women.
MUSALMANS
Of the 883,099 Musalmans of Kashmir 93,575 reside in Srinagar. The rest may roughly be said to form the rural population of Kashmir, as the Musalman inhabitants of the smaller towns are for the most part engaged in agriculture. The census of 1891 does not show the divisions into which the Musalmans of the valley fall but it may be stated that the great mass of the village people come under the head Shekh, and are descendants of the original Hindus, and that though the Saiyads are a numerous community, both they and the Mughals and Pathans are, when compared with the Shekhs, in a great minority.
The Shekh Musalmans of the valley may have retained, for some time after their conversion to Islam, some of the Hindu customs of endogamy within the caste and of exogamy outside the gotra. But there is no trace now of these customs, and the different tribal names or Krams are names and nothing more. There is no restriction on mariage, and a Musalman of the Tantre Kram can either marry a Tantre girl or any other maiden of the villages, provided she be one of the agricultural families. The only line drawn is that one must not marry into Saiyad families on the one hand, nor into families of market-gardeners and menials on the other. It would be interesting to trace the origin of the Kram names, although by intermarriage the Krams have ceased to have any individuality or distinction, and to inquire whether the various Krams sprang from a Brahman, Khattri or Vaisya origin. It is supposed by many that Musalmans of the Pandit, Kol, But, Aitu, Rishi, Mantu, and Ganai Kram are descendants of Brahmans who were forcibly converted to Islam in the fourteenth century, and I have tried to trace in the features of the men of these Krams something of the clean-cut physiognomy which is associated with the Brahman caste. But I find that the Musalman of the Pandit Kram is exactly like the other Musalmans. Other Krams are believed to have sprung from Khattri origin, as ancient history mentions that the bearers of these names in Hindu times were a military and warlike people. Among these Krams may be mentioned the Magres, Tantres, Dars, Dangars, Rainas, Rahtors, Thakurs, and Naiks. Only one Kram, the Lon, is generally assigned a Vaisya origin, and the Oamars are said to be descendants of Sudras, the lowest of the four Hindu castes.
The whole subject of the Kashmir Krams is fraught with difficulty, and this is increased by the fact that men of low occupations are arrogating high-sounding names. Thus of late years the Dums of Kashmir have steadily assumed the Kram of Ganai, much to the annoyance of the original Ganais. To make matters worse, the gardeners and butchers have also taken a fancy to the Kram name Ganai. The boatmen of Kashmir have seized on the name Dar as a patent of respectability, and Musalmans of the other Krams are now annoying the Ganais and the Dars by asserting that they were originally Dums and boatmen. Some Krams are, however, restricted to men of lowly pursuits, and the Kram name Sufi, which is said by some to be of Brahman origin is chiefly found among marketgardeners, bakers, and servants. Pal is another such Kram. The barbers of the valley do not aim so high as the butchers and boatmen, and have contented themselves with appropriating the Kram of Thakur; but there is nothing to prevent Abdulla, the Dum, calling himself Abdulla Pandit if he chose. At first the people would laugh, but after a time, if Abdulla Pandit prospered, his descendants would exhibit a lengthy pedigree table tracing their family back to one of the petty Rajas, lord of three villages and possessor of a fort the ruins of which still stand in Abdulla Pandit’s village. In making inquiries as to the descent of leading men of villages I have found several such cases, and in one instance went back generations until confronted with the inevitable Raja. But the Raja’s descendant, in spite of his wealth and influence, puzzled me, as he was extremely dark-skinned, and it was some time after that I found that the pedigree table was fictitious, and that the man of royal descent was a Dum, who had ingratiated himself with the authorities and had gradually established himself as an agriculturist of the bluest blood. The social system in Kashmir is delightfully plastic, and I know one or two instances of boatmen who have within recent times abandoned their boats and taken to agriculture. These men are now on an equality with the agricultural families and can intermarry with them. Similarly I know of an agriculturist who has degraded himself by taking up the work of a market-gardener, in which the use of poudrette is essential. This man must now contract marriage alliances with other market-gardeners, for he is cut off from the families of the agricultural Musalmans. Again new Krams are springing up. In Zainigir I found a large number of families rejoicing in the Kram ‘Chang’. Their ancestor was a man who played on the Jew’s harp (chang). Azad, the Pathan tyrant, sliced off the ears of an old an faithful servant because he was slow, and banished him to the Lolab. His descendants are numerous, and their K-ram is Kanachattu, the ‘crop-eared’. In the Lolab a young Kram is arising known as Dogra. Two generations have been in the service of the Dogra rulers of the country.
Among the Shekhs must be mentioned the following classes who are more or less connected with the religion of Islam. The Pirzadas, who are descendants of zealous converts to Islam, consider themselves equal to the Saiyads and intermarry with them. The Babas, also descended from zealous converts, are now chiefly religious mendicants. The Rishis are the attendants at shrines established by the old ascetic recluses of Kashmir who were called Rishi, a corruption of the Sanskrit word Rikhi. The Mullahs or priesthood of Kashmir are Shekhs, and may be divided into two classes. The first class includes Mullahs learned in the law, and variously designated as Maulvi, Kazi, Akhund, or Mufti, and Mullahs less learned, who lead the prayers in the mosque, teach children the Koran, and live upon the offerings of the faithful. The second class consists of Mullahs who have fallen in social position and are known as Mals. These wash and prepare the bodies of the dead for burial and dig graves, and they are not allowed to intermarry with the Mullahs or with the villagers. Many Dums and Hanjis have adopted the Kram’Mal’, but the Hanjis regard the name as a corruption of the Panjabi word for boatmen (Malah).
There is some doubt as to the origin of the Tsak of Chak tribe, which played so prominent a part in the history of Kashmir in the sixteenth century, and it is believed that they were not descendants of the Kashmir Hindus but Musalman Dards from Chilas. There are many families in the valley of the Tsak Kram, but they are in no way distinguished from the other Musalmans. The Kakru families, who are settled in Baramula, are said to be descendants of the Ghakkar tribe, and like the Tsak have no connexion with the original Hindus of Kashmir. The small Musalman traders of the villages all belong to the Wani Kram, and are said to be descendants of Khattri Hindus. About the origin of the Pare, Parar, War and Kambe Krams, nothing is known. Their name is nor mentioned in old histories, and inasmuch as Kram names are very easily manufactured, it is probable that these names were introduced after the conversion to Islam.
SAIYADS
The Saiyads may be divided into those who follow the profession of religion (Pir Muridi) and those who have taken to agriculture and other pursuits. As compared with the Shekh Musalmans they may be regarded as foreigners, though there is practically nothing in their appearance, manners or language which distinguishes them from other Kashmiri Musalmans. Some Saiyad families are much looked up to in the villages, but those who have taken to agriculture are practically on a level with the other villagers, and intermarry with them. No villager would think of marrying into a Saiyad family of the Pir profession, as such presumption would bring bad luck
Asalamu Alaikum to you Samihita,
I was on line looking for wedding head dress on Google , and I came acroos your pictures. I want to say how lovely your picttures came out. I just went to a Henna party last night on November 3rd due to my friend just got married and noving to Kansas City. Yes, I am a new American Muslim and wll be possibly marrying someone from India. I am trying to find an Indian Wedding Dress,with India Head dress. I want the whole Indian Muslim Wedding. I also want to have a Islamic Nikkah Wedding.
Does anyone have any suggestions where I can find thess head dressions? Please let know Insha Allah
Ethel Mae (Hafsa) San Diego, California USA
Samihita’s head-dress
the head ornament worn by the bride in these pictures is only worn by Kashmiri Hindu women (in no other part of India do the women wear it). That of course does not mean that a Non Kashmiri person are not allowe to wear it. Take Care and good luck with the marriage process.
November 5, 2008 @ 5:58am,
Asalamu Alaikum sister,
If anyone who knows this sister Semihita Kaw where she found her head dressing? What is it called? I can’t seem to to find the name of it. I just typed in Islamic Indian Wedding Head Dress and your picture came up thank goodness. I have been looking for hours. I just started looking. But I want to find the perfect one. I am in California, USA. But I have no problem ordering from India as he is from India. Maybe someone could read this and recommend a wonderfum place for me to shop Insha Allah.
Thank you so much,
Ethel
Samihita Kaw
Hi Ethel,
Glad that you liked the head-ornament. Yes, it is very beautiful. The headgear is called a “Taranga.” It is found only in Jammu and Kashmir (as it is worn only by Kashmiri Hindu women)….Although some Kashmiri stores in Delhi might have them as well (they are made by the tailor for each woman individually, so there is no standard Taranga that you can just pick off the shelf). Hope this helps:)
Salaam sister,
Shukria -Thank you so much for answering my question. I really would love to wear something like this for my wedding when I get married. I look at the wedding dress all the time on youtube and the Mehndi I love so much.
You know my family is Indian but Cherokee Indian, Maybe this is why I don’t care for American Weddings and in my heart I want to wear this kind of dress and the music also
Is there anyway, you could send me the stores names or maybe a Website I could check out the Kashmiri Head dress.
I looked for the page that I saved and could not find it. I am glad I found you now. this is what I want to wear on my wedding day. I went to a few stores in a city called Artisia on Pioneer Blvd and they have so many stores on every block with Shawar Kemmeze and wedding wear. but I didn’t know the name of the head dress to tell the sales person.
Could you or someone help me with me. Email me anytime. I would love to stay in touch ok
Your friend
khadijah-Ethel Mae
My new Islamic Name
Who is this Usman Butt, why is it so mean? I don’t understand. He sounds like a racist to me. I am Muslim, whilte, blonde hair and green eyes. I practiced my religion altough it is very new to me. I am a new American Convert. But this whole this started just because of the word Kashmiri. Why is there such a long blog about this? She was preparing for marriage and maybe she wanted to wear that style. Like me, I am American, I don’t want the American traditional wedding, I would like t have a grand wedding in India, with the traditional India Wedding Dress and Head Dress. So why all the fuss all over her head dress?? This is suppose to be a wonderful blog to wish the happy couple good luck and a good life I would thank??
So I wish them the best in life for them. That the next chapter in their life will be even better Insha Allah
Your sister in Islam Ethel Mae San Diego, California USA
As Salam Walikum
Usman to me seems to be from our small neighbouring country, Pakistan and it seems certain also that he is not of Kashmiri origin. Our Prophet (PBUH) spoke of tolerance,love and brotherhood, Usman is just the opposite.
Usman can not be a racist as he is probably of the same race as me (Aryan from Kashmir), that is he is surely an Aryan. He is not a true Muslim and seems to be a fanatic. We from Budgam are known for tolerance and the recent sacrifice of our leader Aga Syed Mehdi son of the great Aga Syed Mustafa, will not go in waste. He always respected the KPs for their intelligenece,honour and genuine tolerance.
I was overjoyed to observe that Miss Kaw and her family have maintained our great Kashmiri tradition in every sense. Not surprising as Kps have always been extremely traditional. I always enjoy our Khander Saals.
I second you!!!
Much interested in India I being from Israel, (Middle-East). This attire indicated has no link to the Middle-East, Africa, Americas and other regions of this planet. To me looks the Tajiks have close and some similarity in looks and dress. In any case one can not separate India from Central Asia. These regions have a lot of similarity, except India is mostly Hindu.
Certainly the dress is unique and colourful has its own character. Probably developed through ages due to climate. Delighted!
Wow! Great photographs! Happy to observe we Kashmiris are maintaining our traditions all over this planet. I would have liked to see the lady in Pheron. That would have made things look more variegated and traditional.
May I add Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims have a strong bond for centuries and can never be separated. Peace is surely on its way in Kashmir and we shall again live as a family again.
My mother gave me the name Salaam (which means peace in Arabic and Hebrew. Precisely Shalom in Hebrew). Most of us were Hindus before we converted to Islam and took up Semitic names (Arabic -Hebrew) names. Surely we are not Semites but Aryans following a Semitic religion, the compassionate religion Islam. On this all of us who have an education agree. Thus the Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir are not only linked by culture but also by blood.
Dr. Salaam Wani
P.S. Mein chune mashit gomute mein Bhatta baradar.
Great to observe my community maintain their traditions. Many planted sites are coming upto change the history,culture,values of our people,this can not be done. See what the Geeorge Campbell had tosay of our people:
An objective analysis of the Kashmiris Brahmins was done by the famous and brilliant George Campbell,”The Kashmiri Brahmins are quite high-Aryan in the type of their features—very fair and handsome,with high chiselled features,and no trace of intermixture of blood of any lower race.It may be partly race and partly occupation, but they have certainly greater refinment and regularity of features than the Afghans and other less Aryan type.The high nose,slightly aquiline,but by no means what we call Jewish or nutcracker, is a common type. Raise a little the brow of a Greek statue,and give the nose a small turn at the bony point in front of the bridge,so as to break the straightness of line,you have then the model type of this part of India,to be found in living men and in the statues dug up in Peshawar valley. The figure of the ordinary Kashmiri Pandit is strong and athletic.”
Manu Zadoo,P.hD.
Some other interesting facts on the Kashmiri Brahmins. I thought this view would be interesting as we were quite often taught about Pandit Nehru the Daddy of the brilliant non-alignment policy.
“Their intellectual superiority over the rest of the population must be admitted. Some of them are very superior, trustworthy, honest, clear-headed and industrious.” – Dr. Ernest Neve
HIIII,SAMIHITA
NICE PICTURES FIRST OF ALL. THANK U HAVING THESES PICTURES IN HERE. COZ I AM A FASHION DESIGNER WHO WAS IN NEED OF KASMIRI WEDDING PICTURES AND WANNA DO DRESSES BASED ON THAT. THESE PICTURES HELPED ME A LOT THANK U ONCE MORE.
I am a kashmiri pandit now living in Mumbai. We are some of the few KP
pandits who did not migrate from the valley in 1989-90, my parents are still in Srinagar. Lately I have developed an interest in detecting the roots of KP. Thus came to this blog or page. The pictures are no doubt beautiful. But what hit me & tempted me to write were the comments of one Mr. Usman Butt. Probably he is kashmiri or maybe he is from that shit hole called Pakistan. There are many Kashmiri Muslims who do talk like he is talking. I was born in srinagar & studied till my 12th (HSC) in Srinager. To tell you all the truth, living there in those days was difficult for a KP. And now in todays time it is almost immpossible for a KP live there with slightest of dignity. I love my Kashmir & am proud to be a KP but I hate Muslims in general & Kashmiri Muslims in particular even though i still have some Kashmiri Muslim friends. I cannot forget the verbal & pschycological torture we KPs had to go through during our student days in Srinagar. And who can forget the killings which went on in the name to ‘Nizam-e-mustafa’ after 1989. My life would have been totally different if this would have not happened. My comments may seem hafazard that is because there is so much in my heart to express which at the moment are not finding words.
Strange though this site was enjoyable and meant only to show the culture of our home Kashmir, it has got involved in politics. Yeh kaye seh guve! I have no doubt that our Kashmiri Pandit brethren will maintain their unique culture. Samihita Kaw is a nice example of our Kashmiri culture. Our congratulations to her and on maintaining the great (Bhatta) KP culture and tradition.
Some of my Kashmiri Muslim brothers (they may not even think I am a Muslim, but that is their problem, not mine surely) may not like what I write but what happened in Kashmir valley in the late 80s and 90s was not only stupid but unexpected. Peaceful Kashmir got drawn into the international intrigue. The USSR was in trouble (therefore they could not support India then) thus the triangle of China-Pakistan-USA was convinced that Kashmir could be removed from the Indian Union. This clearly proved to be a grave misjudgment as like any democracy India had great latent strength. Besides Mrs. Indira Gandhi by making India’s nuclear weapons an open fact in 1974 made sure that no one could threaten the sovereignity of India. In fact the late V.P. Singh had given orders if there was a triangular attack on India, she India should not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to safeguard her sovereignty. The brilliant scientist Raja Ramanna was made the defence minister by V.P. Singh and Ramanna made it clear that if challenged the next nuclear test would be made on top of China and Pakistan!
Thus all the lives wasted in Kashmir by externally sponsored terrorism have been a total waste and Pakistan as a proxy of big powers has been mainly responsible for this.
The world has changed under the administration of farsighted President Bush (who looked for the long term interests of the U.S.A) and the Indian colossus, and the U.S.A. have emerged as natural allies. The small state Pakistan (quite rightfully) is no more equated with India. Moreover, the gap between India and Pakistan is extremely large in every area and India is now accepted as a greater power than China. Also Pakistan has no Uranium reserves (this is sure and lot of data on this is planted), and Pakistan may have a couple Uranium bombs (of low kilo tonnage from China. They in reality serve no great purpose (except pyschological) against a rurally populated large India which has a huge and modern nuclear arsenal.
Thus due to the global change of politics peace is coming to Kashmir and Pakistan is slowly but surely realizing that it is in her interest to live in peace with India. No power can now use Pakistan against India anymore.
At the end all Kashmiri Muslims (who are open and educated) will realize that most of us are descendents of Hindus and many of of Brahmins. Kashmir is Aryan like most of other parts of India. Kashmir is also technically Central Asia and before the Islam made inroads into our regions, most of Central Asia was Hindu-Buddhist or Zoroastrian. In fact up to the 11th Century A.D. the Hindu Shahis ruled the Kabul region.
Most of us Kashmiri Muslims are sure (like the great Ghulam Nabi Azad) that total peace and harmony is on it way to our region. All what is required is patience now. Kashmir reflects the secularism of India at he best.
Finally friends internet is a great place but be wary of fake sites with an agenda using Kashmiri names.
Tariq harami pundit, we are kashmiris and are descendants of kashmiris , fake religion of dravidians hindus cannot define our race, our soil of kashmir is what determines our race, not penis worshiping religion hinduism. Hinduism is a religion, not a race, but kashmiris are a race of dardic people. All pandits were and are a mix of dardic and dravidian hindus and hence look very compared to kashmiri muslim. Traitors like you shoul be burried alive in srinagar.
Mr Usman BUTT,
Your last name describes you and your thinking PERFECTLY….Butt (or what I would like to refer to as an absolute”ASS”). You are one of the few Kashmiri Muslims (if indeed you are a Kashmiri Muslim as you claim) who is spreading hatred and violence and are responsible for the plight of Kashmiri Pandits and for the suffereing of your own people as well. Instead of brainwashing the yourth, open your mind and your heart…I hate to break it you but if you truly are a Kashmiri Muslim (and not from some other part of the world), at some point your ancestors were Hindus. If you visit some of the mosques in Srinagar, you will notice that on the inside architecturally, many of them more closely resemble Hindu temples than typical Arab mosques (this is because they were in fact temples that were forcibly converted into mosques)! Follow the policy of “Live and Let Live.” Kashmiri Pandits have not harmed you in any way. Many kashmiri Pandits have greatly contributed to kashmiri Arts/Music/Cuisine/culture..If you look at some of the famous Kashmiri Pandits such as the great Jawaharlal Nehru, his daughter who was also a pure kashmiri Pandit (Indira Nehru/Gandhi), Neel kashkari, actors Raj Kumar, Sony Razdan, Kanchi Kaul, Anupam Kher, designer Rohit Bal and MANY MORE, you will see all the typical physical features of a Kashmiri -fair complexion, sharp features and(especially the infamous “Kashmiri NOSE”). But whether you want to agree or just be stuck in your delusion…..it will NOT change the facts. Have a nice life and do NOT post anything here if you have nothing nice to say to anyone. You can rot in your hatred..it will, I assure you, get you eventually.
Usman is not a Kashmiri so I request ignore him. Yey chuey Wattul. Kashmiris may differ in views but have culture and sophistication. Read the Kashmiri Allama Iqbal
Finally, the game is over (whether you are Usman or someone else), all people in our region will live in harmony and my country India is now a superpower. All religions according to Nur-ud-Din (Nand Rishi) are brothers. India is a great secular, democracy.
At the end Usman Butt (or whosover you are) keeping shouting the game is over.
Dear Usman Butt (ASS),
You really proved to be an ass, I knew you would react in such a manner. Though your nice commect to me particulary is not in the thread (that i dont know why) proves that you are a kashmiri muslim who can be herded like cattle/sheep by plainly provokating you all with just talking (Islam khatre mein hain) like it happend during Amarnath land dispute.
If you were not like your forefathers (brainless barbarians) you would have given some respect to the girl who simply posted her wedding pics.
Most of the muslims living in srinagar or kashmir are like Kuwein ke maindak (frogs of the well), they dont know what is happening outside the well. You must be one of those maindaks who just does not know anything beyond their kuwan. It is better for you to be there and do
your TTRRRR TTRRRR TTRRRR and pakau your khayali khichdi (that is what most of the kashmiri muslims do anyway- baring very very few).
At the end the game is over and peace is coming to Kashmir. No one can stop this from occurring. Usmam chey chuk nabrin. I fully agree that India is a superpower and no country on this planet can hope to fight 1.2 billion Indians and hope to win.
Who is Usman to tell us about the History of us the Kashmiri Brahmins (Pandits) We have had authentic, deep, credible historians like Kalhana, Jonaraja and others. When the great Adi Sankaracharya visited Kashmir he was greatly impressed by the learning of Kashmiri Pandits. Samihita Kaw great photographs KPs are proud of you. The community is sure to survivve.
As some persons are trying to place false information or data in order to create a confusion (this can never be achieved), I suggest people read the post by Javed (which is above). This article was been written by none other than the famous and brilliant, Dr. Munshi. Manu (the word man originates from Manu) is the first Aryan and the originator of the Aryan Race. The Germans during their pre-Christian period in their mythology described themselves as the descendents from the three sons of Mannus.
The Kashmiri Brahmins (Pandits) and their roots are on solid ground and spurious data being placed on the web serves no purpose as no one can change or modify our ancient texts. We are physical and mental survivors. Besides, we value creativity over materialism.
As some persons are trying to place false information or data in order to create a confusion (this can never be achieved), I suggest people read the post by Javed (which is above). This article has been written by none other than the famous and brilliant, Dr. Munshi. Manu (the word man originates from Manu) is the first Aryan and the originator of the Aryan Race. The Germans during their pre-Christian period in their mythology described themselves as the descendents from the three sons of Mannus.
The Kashmiri Brahmins (Pandits) and their roots are on solid ground and spurious data being placed on the web serves no purpose as no one can change or modify our ancient texts. We are physical and mental survivors. Besides, we value creativity over materialism.
The Kashmiri Brahmin marriage photographs show us how diverse yet united India is. Bengalis have much in common. Your tiny community must maintain their great culture and must not be swayed by external propaganda. we like variety in India.
I am well travelled and much rumours are being spread to make Semites (like Jews and Arabs) the Kashmiris and other dominant people worldwide by pushing fake data. It shall never work. People who have the aim to disorient the ancient civilizations will yet try, though they shall fail miserably.
Rudyard Kipling was brilliant and he wrote, “East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet”.
Yes there is an effort to Semitize (that is make children of Abrahim like the Jews and Arabs) many dominant groups in the world. Modern racial genetics is still just too primitive and prone to manipulation. What is certain that no original Indian population has any link to the Semites (Jews and Arabs) neither, culturally, religiously or ethnically. Moreover, neither the Kashmiris, Jats, nor the Pathans have any link to the Jews which some outside elements are trying to create. The Jewish populations commonly have a moderate frequency of haplogroup 21 (e.g., 20%) and a high frequency of haplogroup 9 (e.g., 36%; (Hammer et al. 2000). The frequencies of both of these haplogroups are extremly low in the Kashmiris and Pathans, and haplogroup 28 is present at 13% in the Pathans, thus no link of the Kashmiris, Pathans or other original people of the subcontinent to the Semites (Jews and Arabs) is found. Thus there is no doubt that most modern Indians belong to the Aryan Race. Take your epics, language and history, that is more reliable than what external sources tell you. Be careful of the data being pushed into the Wikepidia.
As anticipated most Kashmiris and many other Indian friends of mine were captivated to see this site. The discussions made many us feel proud of the fact that by large our traditions, culture and ethnicity is being maintained. It is common knowledge that some insecure people are pushing false data in order try to change not only our culture but also our ethnicity. The aim of one such group is to make us Semites (like Jews and Arabs who are the children of Abraham via Isaac and Ismael). Such people are surely dense as they have no understanding of the Indian culture and values. They can never change the Rigveda, Bhagwad Gita, Ramayana and the Rajataringini (which they are trying very hard to do), just because these historical epics do not suit them. The Aryan Race concept is on solid ground and is not based on mere speculation and the Brahmins (Pandits) of Kashmir probably represent the original people of this Race. In no way must we (as an ancient civilization) overlook the acts of the savage Adolf Hitler, nonetheless let us feel proud of belonging to this Race and our great Aryan heritage.
nationality only determines ones identity (ethnicity).but ones character is determined by ones faith.for a long time now we kashmiri muslims`ve been oppressed & tortured by different hindus(dogras,then pundits and now bloody indians).insha -ALLAH we`ill take over them all.pundits r not our brothers but we do share some cultural similarities.that certainly doesn`t make them our well wishers.they deserted us.they talk of their 300 killings.what about our 100 thousand.i`ve been hearin the tales of their discrimnation since childhood.they r no superior to me.in fact we`ve shown them the real humanity.on the other hand indians r stupids and cowards by their genetics.they`ve always been ruled by foreigners,this shows their valour.
Pandits never deserted you….They were FORCED out of Kashmir by the same Muslims whom they had treated like family. The terrorists specifically targeted the Hindu families. But now, you the Muslims are suffering the conaequences……Because now since there are barely any Hindus left in the valley, the terrorists are going after your sisters and brothers. just remember that YOU SHALL REAP WHAT YOU SOW…..Everytime there is a suicide bomb in Srinagar, it is someone from your brotherhood who is killed. As far as most of us are concerned, One life is a life too many…but based on your thinking and that of your buddy Mr. BUTT, you clearly have no value or respect for human life. Please read the comment that I wrote you friend above in the discussion. I hope that it will clear up many delusions in your brain…..Stop getting educated in the madrasas nad start going to real schools…….
I agree with you. Pakistan is a mess and will make Kashmir into a even bigger mess.
Allah Ho Akbar-Pyat Payi Makbar……lmfao
LOVely lovely Kashmiri pandit bridal picture. Keep them up.
I am getting married and wanted to see how the targa is incorporated with whole sari/chunni. Its not so visible afterall
and were the two plaits visible?
(Ignore the comments from people who just cant respect others! Says a lot about them!!!)
THANKS SO MUCH Samihita
The fact is most of the time the Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir lived in harmony under the influence of Sufi culture. Are we not brothers? My ancestors were all Hindus. Our family has history of our lineage. Our people have had great revolutionaries even in modern times. Was not the great Pandit Moti Lal Nehru a Kashmiri? Also Ayatollah Khomeini had Kashmiri roots. Khomeini’s elder brother, Seyyed Morteza Pasandideh informs us that his grandfather Seyyed Ahmad left Kashmir some time in the middle of the nineteenth century on pilgrimage to the tomb of Hazrat Ali and never came back.
Khomeini had once penned down a letter to then top Shia cleric Aga Yusuf Almosvi Budgami, expressing his strong desire to pay visit to his ancestral land (with reference to Kashmir). The letter is still preserved with late Aga’s son Aga Syed Fazlullah.
As all can see the global politics has changed. India is a now a superpower, a great secular democracy and most countries are now interested in the liberation of Tibet from the oppressive Chinese. The Chinese are slaughtering my Muslim brothers. Thus permanent peace and harmony is on its way to Kashmir.
Kashmiris are proud of their Race as well,the Race of Aryans. Many other people like that Iranians, Tajiks etc., are also proud of their Aryan roots.
Even in ancient Iran King Darius (521 – 486 BC), has this to say, “I am Darius, the great king, the king of kings
The king of many countries and many peoples
The king of this expansive land,
The son of Wishtaspa of Achaemenid,
Persian, the son of a Persian,
‘Aryan’, from the Aryan Race
From the Darius the Great’s Inscription in Naqshe-e-Rostam”
Dear aftab ahmad. Please study Indian history and then you will realize that the Indians are surely amongst the best fighters. They fought for the British in first and second world wars and take note of the Victoria Crosses won. Hardly any country has not been ruled by other people on this planet. Yes India was ruled at times by foreigners but never controlled as Indians always kept fighting back. The Arabs at their peak were the best in technology and fighting abilities yet they were defeated by the Indians, and one person responsible for their defeat was the mighty Indian King Lalitaditya. Thus the Arabs never made it further than Sind and Multan. The Arabs had great respect for the fighting abilities of the Indians. Read Chacha Namah, translated from Arabic by the Arab Ali of Kufa.
Hindus and Sikhs have respected all religions as this is one of the main canon of our way of life. You might recollect that Maharana Pratap defeated Akbar and liberated Mewar. Guess who one of his generals was. It was Hakim Khan Sur. Now do not forget Chandragupta Maurya who defeated Seleukus Nicator.
Finally do not get brainwashed into fighting about 1.2 billion war-like people armed also with a huge nuclear arsenal. Be wise you know the results. I guess you know the Rajputs, Jats, Coorgis, Nairs 0f Kerala, Gujjars, Yadavs etc. of India and their fighting abilities, they are invincible.
Hey all you guys,
Why are we all fighting & argueing like this. The girl simply posted
pics of kashmiri bride’s head dress and see what has it come to.
Let the thread be what it was originally meant for i.e., post comments on the head dress not Kashmiri pandits vs kashmiri muslims. There are other blogs for doing that.
The head derss is really beautiful along with the bride wearing it.
Dear Kapil and the other voices of reason on this thread,
Thank you for your comments of reason. I took these pictures of my friend Samihita just before her wedding and posted it on my personal blog to share with my friends and hers. I am sorry that some people have used this to air their (sometimes fanatic) political views. I have been loath to interfere with free expression, but have taken the privilege of editorship to delete some of the most hateful comments.
To those of you who would like to continue the political discussion – please do take it to another forum or set up your own.
Thank you all for your interest and participation.
God bless this couple and the KPs. fine photographs
Mr.Tara Chand thanks for the valuable information u`ve posted.these small moments actually can`t stand for the >5000 yr old history of India.well we haven`t got much to do with that.the question is,does this beautiful bride speak kashmiri?how can u say of preservin kashmiri values if these guys`ve left their brotheren(as far as their homeland is concerned)to be run over by foreign forces.they should`ve stayed back home,should`ve stood for us.didn`t want to hurt anybody`s feelings.but mine`ve been hurt.my people`ve been killed.insha-ALLAH very soon we r goin to turn the tables over.
The Kashmiri PANDITS NEVER left by choice….We were forced out of Kashmir. I still remember the night I left Kashmir….I almost lost my famiy that night…A distant relative of mine was NOT just the first Kashmiri Hindu, but also the first Kashmiri period, who was shot point blank in Srinagar. Her only crime was that she was a Hindu. I still remember how in schools and Colleges overnight, the Muslims wanted nothing to do with the Pandits. Even in schools such as Malinson, the Muslim girls refused to sit with teh Pandit girls (in addition to verbally abusing them). I will never forget how the locals (Muslims) treated us during that time period. My family received death threats from many millitant organizations….At night we couldn’t sleep….for fear that someone would break into our house (there have been uncountable cases where millitants broke into the homes of Kashmiri pandits and raped the women, killed everyone in the family and then burned down the house). I will never ever forget out even the shopkeepers refused to sell us food (there were many days and nights that we would have to go hungry). I will NEVER EVER FORGET all this, but yes, I am willing to Forgive. Please shun the kind of religious politics that brainwashes people into thinking that only their religion is true and has all the answers. We all are human beings. Let us live in harmony and not delude ourselves into thinking that any one religion/culture/race/ethinicity is superios to the other. I am a Hindu, but even after being abused by the Muslims, I still feel love for them. After all, all of us have descended from a single African ! ! !
Tara Chand is correct India (which includes Kashmir) is too powerful and ancient and Tibet and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region will be libearated from the brutal Chinese, as they are killing my brother Muslims on a daily basis. I am an Indian and a Muslim proud of both.
We Kashmiris are an ancient people and Samhita and Shagun we are proud of you for retaining your culture, I am also sure you both are fluent in Kashmiri as well.
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into Nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”
[Al-Qur’an 49:13]
Butt out this Mohammad Usman Butt— He is a bigot.
The Prophet was great and respected all religions. The Holy Koran is a great guide for virtuous behavior and manners, thus Usman may not be a Muslim. God also made variety so let there be variety and let us not push our culture, origins and values on others.
In your religion Manu is the first man (Sanskrit Mannus). There are many other cultures (in Indo-European mythology Manu {manus} was the first man) who believe in Mannus as the first man amongst them were the pre-Christan Germans. According to Tacitus (Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca. 56 – ca. 117) relates that according to their ancient songs the Germans were descended from the three sons of Mannus, the son of the god Tuisto, the son of Earth.
At the end (as an alien interested in other cultures) the headress of Samhita was gorgeous and she is gorgeous too.
Awed by the great photos. In most Indian weddings (that I was lucky to attend) I have observed the favourite sign of India, the Swastika and some times also the Devi Chakra. Swastika (a Symbol of India) is found in many cultures but is called only as Swastika originally in Aryan lands. While the Star of David (Daud) is found in many cultures but is only referred specifically as Star of David (in Semitic (Jewish and Arab) cultures.
In India a Tantric fertility sign is found which resembles the Star of David however this symbol in India is referred to as Devi (Devine) Chakra. It is a sexual sign of fertility. The triangle facing downwards a man and triangle facing upwards symbolizing women. Thus this fertility sign is a lucky symbol for marriage in India.
A better title for this hindu wedding would be
“A Hindu Dravidian Marriage”
Do not understand , why these people deteriorating kashmiri culture, guys kashmiri women do not wear Saris.
Likewise, I don;t know why you guys tend to call your current culture as Kashmiri, when in fact you are now following Arab traditions….Anyway, in a way, I hope that Kashmir at some point goes under Pakistan….this way, you will get a taste of what Pakistan (Porkistan) is all about. The same tragedy that has befallen people in Swat Valley and in other parts of Porkistan will befall you. Then you’ll realize that India has been GREAT to Kashmir and never ostracized anyone…But by then it’ll be too late because you will have no contact with the outside world..You’ll be too busy trying to survive in that wonderful “Sharia” tradition of yours (lol). Your women and children will be shunned and the Pakistanis will ruin the Kashmir as we know it (more than what they already have). Your education system will be THIRD RATE at best….. Please read the comments that some of your own fellow Kashmiri Muslims have written (It is nice to know that NOT all of you are brainwashed puppets…..that some of you can actually think for yourselves and are tolerant and well-educated). MY LOVE to those Kashmiri Muslim brothers/sisters who are well-versed in their culture and know about their past and have not been jaded by Porkistani/Muslim Fanatic Propaganda.GOOD LUCK.
PS. Yes I am sure that the couple is well-versed in Kashmiri.
Choey Cukh no Kasur. Bhatta geye asal Aryan, sene khoon. What is clear the Muslim Kashmiri is not a Muslim Kashmiri but a foreigner using this name. Most of us Kashmiri Muslims are proud and love the Kashmiri Brahmin community. Thanks for the great photographs and maintaing our great Kashmiri culture.
I agree with you…but you have to remember that it takes only a few bad apples such as BUTT, to spoil the bunch…Anyway, keep up with your thinking and wishing you the very best:)
Elated! You both must both thank your great parents who taught you the great culture and civilization of our ancestors and made you maintain all the traditions of the ancient and indomitable community of the Kashmiri Brahmins. Surely due to young people like you our great community will survive and maintain their purity and culture.
Great photos. The diversity and yet the unity of India ultimately (culturally) is self-evident.
During my college days I had many Kashmiri friends. I found them (in general) to respect all religions and cultures yet retaining their own. A remarkable people! This community under great pressures has not deviated (my salutations to them) in general from the Bhagwad Gita: “With the preponderance of vice, Krsna, the women of the family become corrupt and with the corruption of women, O descendant of Vrsni there ensues an intermixture of castes’ ..I 41
Admixture of blood damns the destroyers of the race as well as the race itself, Deprived of the offerings of rice and water the manes of their race also fall.” ..42
Enlightening photography indicates India’s diversity yet also unity. Truly a historical and powerful community. I send a view which might interest you all.
http://books.google.com/books?id=l6xgrfeCVwAC&pg=RA1-PA723&lpg=RA1-PA723&dq=Purest+Aryans+Kashmiris&source=bl&ots=4KOjWH7D0j&sig=YVMmMSzFzEBJJLNl9ZIL7jcFJTE&hl=en&ei=B1mhSYT4DdLjtgepgZH3DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PRA1-PA723,M1
It is fascinating to see the diverse of our colour India, truly pretty photographs and dress. Now coming to the post of Minochehr, yes the purest of finest specimens of Aryans today are most likely the Kashmiri Pandits, Parsees, etc. Caution must be taken that foreigners try to insert (rather cleverly) foreign elements in this case Semitic figures into India. No Hindu-Buddhist ancient text ever refers to Semites and in this case a Semite Melchizedek (a Semite) has been cleverly inserted into an Aryan nation, though not directly but as an example.
We respect all great men but should never tolerate the pollution of the Aryan-Hindu civilization.
Stumbled on this site. Great photographs and interesting discussion. Reminds me of some interesting facts about your original home, Kashmir. My Dad who was in the Indian Civil service told me a story that just prior to the Second World War, the Nazis were sending agents into Kashmir Valley , particularly to recruit healthy young Kashmiri Brahmin men to improve the German Race. As expected the Brahmins of Kashmir wanted to be a no part of this. Now many Germans are going to the vicinity of the Valley to produce pure Aryan children. Since this is a strategic area the Indian Army has cordoned this region. Read an article by the famous journalist Hari Jaisingh:
BEYOND the rich heritage of monasteries, the spirit of Buddhism, the captivating barren mountains of varied shades and hues, the crystal-clear skyline and the quiet flow of the Indus, one specific facet of Ladakh which has always fascinated me is the legendary inhabitation of pure-blooded Aryans in parts of the region.
The Aryans of Ladakh stand out as tall, (going up to 6′-6″), sharp-featured with big eyes and a fair complexion. They are very protective about themselves and are, understandably, reluctant to open up so easily to “outsiders”.
A number of German visitors have been sneaking into the area for decades to study and do research on special racial and related characteristics of these original inhabitants. This small, racially and culturally homogeneous community can be a rich study material for scholars in the fields of ethnology and social anthropology.
However, at the back of the mind of several German tourists has been possible thrills that could flow from closely interacting with the pure-blooded people physically for a new-generation progeny. They hardly succeed in such attempts. Still, the lure of Ladakh’s Aryans continues to attract a large number of Germans.
In his fascinating and well-researched book Hermit Kingdom: Ladakh (Vikas 1980), the famous mountaineer and an expert on the Himalayan region, Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia (he scaled Everest on May 29, 1965), describes how a group of German girls once travelled all the way to Ladakh in search of the “Aryan seed”. He states:
“They came all the way to Ladakh hoping to carry back with them the seed of what is believed to be the purest survivors of the Aryan race. These sophisticated young ladies from the western world, incredibly enough, were not only willing to but eager to have sexual intercourse with these tribal males…”
Great photographs!
Great traditional photographs. The discussion too is illuminating. Particularly, in this age of disinformation I was delighted to note that ordinary people (not experts) have even started to note the game in every aspect pertaining to the Indian culture and life which is emanates from outside our borders. Unfortunately some Indians in India (to show their knowledge react in an opposite manner without going deep into things). The discussion here in general surely had depth as well.
India has great diversity yet the glue which binds us all the people of our great land is stronger than Crazy Glue. No power can thus divide us.
Dr. P.S. Dhillon
CANADA
Colourful photographs. India at her best, unity in diversity.
I fully appreciate the views of my dear friend Rahul. I must add that Kashmiris Brahmins were great masters of spoken Sanskrit and Kashmiri spoken today is a Dardic based language of the Indo-Aryan family. The dress of Kashmiri Pandits reflects the original dress of Central Asian Aryans. Though the Turanic people were also Aryans Kashmiris are not Turanic but typical Indo-Iranian Aryans.
I am a Punjabi and my family lived and did business in the Valley of Kashmir. Great Dress i loved the wedding parties due to the colourfullness and feasts.
Yes Kashmirs are not Turanic but Indo-Aryans. Also Kashmiri a Dardic language belongs to the Indo-Aryan group of languages. If you hear otherwise it is fake propaganda. Loved Kashmiri music as well.
Rahul Dixit
October 2, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Excellent photographs. Yes Kashmir has great tradition and is the Crown of India. It is Central Asia also with the purity of the Aryan Race. Though much effort has been made in the past to Semitize (make them Jewish-Arab, The Jews and Arabs are cousins and children of Abraham), this has failed and will surely fail in the future.
India like the U.S. is a great democracy and a mosaic and not a melting pot, though our culture is the same (Aryan Culture) from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. So Kashmiri Brahmins like all Indians must uphold their Aryan values. The word Aryan is Indian and genetically Kashmiris like most Indians are pure Aryans. No amount of propaganda can change this
“No amount of propaganda can change this”
Making a statament is not the same as evidence. This is not an argument nor is this evidence that proves your statement “genetically Kashmiris like most Indians are pure Aryans” true. If you are claiming that the typical indian looking people are the true aryans then your going to have to provide factual evidence for it. There is no such thing as a true aryan or a true this or a true that, either you are or you are not. What are the typical looks of the average indian? Do they even need to be stated?
“Though much effort has been made in the past to Semitize (make them Jewish-Arab”
Effort has never been needed to be made to semitize the kashmiris as the typical looks of the kashmiris proper without any recent non kashmiri admixture speaks for itself, they have always claimed to descend from bani israel. Even Hazrat Sulaiman (AS) reputadly entered the northern Kashmir region with an army of israilites and there are many locations and customs of jewish names which spell a testimony to that and this is the reason why northern kashmiris are known as the whitest people in the world and not cos of the so called aryan invasion of india
Yes after Islam (a great Semitic religion) came into various parts of the globe an all out effort by Muslim preachers was made not only to Semitize people (make Jewish-Arab) not only religiously, culturally but also ethnically. Hindu Kashmir never heard of Semites, before Islam arrived. Read the Rajataringini one of the best histories of our globe. The Arabs and Jews are cousins and look alike. Never heard of a K.P. look like a Semite (Jewish-Arab). We eat pork and also never circumcize.(The Jewish populations commonly have a moderate frequency of haplogroup 21 (e.g., 20%) and a high frequency of haplogroup 9 (e.g., 36%; (Hammer et al. 2000). The Kashmiris have no link to these Semitic haplogroups.
Also Michael F. Hammer, an associate researcher in the Division of Biotechnology at the Arizona Research Labs, is the lead author of a new study, reported in the May 9 issue of the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,” that suggests the Diaspora – the dispersion of Jews throughout the world – has not had a strong effect on the genetic link among Jewish men.
The study, conducted by an international team from the United States, Europe, South Africa and Israel, shows that Jews are closely related to their Arab neighbors.
Finally, best of luck, you can not change the Rigveda, Ramamayana, Bhagwad Gita and Rajataringini. Kashmiri Brahmins in ancient times were masters of Sanskrit (the mother of all Aryan languages) and also modern Kashmiri is a Dardic Indo-Aryan language.
Keep trying while Hindus love all religions we never heard of Adam, Abrahim (Ibrahim), Sulaiman (Solomon), Daud (David) in the Hindu-Buddhist epics. Our first man like the Germans is Manu. We descended from the Manu the Aryan. Kashmiri Brahmins are the purest of Aryans.
Finally, I am told even an effort is being made to Semitize people all over the world for political reasons including the Aryan people of Iran. read: http://www.rferl.org/content/Were_Ahmadinejads_Ancestors_Jews_/1375318.html
Great culture and photographs. I was in the Valley recently, peace is returning certainly. Keep your culture intact that is the strength of India.
I would agree totally that no power on this planet can make Semites (Jews-Arabs) the Aryan Kashmiri Brahmin. The history of Kashmir (India) is too clear for any outside political manipulation. I even bought the great dress a Pheron back from the Valley.
With all due to respect I was not making reference to the arabs or the jews or the hindu kashmiris in my comment. I was making reference to a certain section of the kashmiris (muslim kashmiris) who claim racial descent from bani israel not the jews note the difference. The kashmiris have never claimed descent from the jews or arabs of today so there is no point quoting the frequency of haplogroup 21 (e.g., 20%)of the jews. Hindu kashmiris have never heard of semites, so what? big deal. I had never heard of the moon before i heard of it doesnt mean the moon didnt exist before i heard of it. The hindu kashmiris can claim any descent they like till there hearts desire is content and can think themselves descendents of who they like till there heart cant go on because I was not addressing the hindu kashmiris I was addressing a certain group of kashmiris called the muslims kashmriis who have claimed bani israel descent from Time immemorial. So you hindu brahmins can claim what you like but you are not going to tell me what my roots are.
“The study, conducted by an international team from the United States, Europe, South Africa and Israel, shows that Jews are closely related to their Arab neighbors” so what? apart from you who menioned the arabs and jews certainly not me?
“Finally, best of luck, you can not change the Rigveda, Ramamayana, Bhagwad Gita and Rajataringini” I dont recall mentioning any such thing never mind wanting to change it, so best of luck to you.
You say “Kashmiri Brahmins in ancient times were masters of Sanskrit (the mother of all Aryan languages)” so what? Big deal? and also “modern Kashmiri is a Dardic Indo-Aryan language” so what? big deal.I speak english which is an indo european language but Im not european.
“Keep trying while Hindus love all religions we never heard of Adam, Abrahim (Ibrahim), Sulaiman (Solomon), Daud (David) in the Hindu-Buddhist epics. Our first man like the Germans is Manu.”
No one is trying anything here but you. I never heard of the sun before i heard of the sun doesnt mean the sun started existing only when I heard of it. So you keep trying with your simple illogical thought statements. Making a statement is not the same as evidence.
“We descended from the Manu the Aryan. Kashmiri Brahmins are the purest of Aryans” Hindu brahmins/hindu kashmriis can claim descent from who they like and can think themselves the purest of the pure aryans all they like, in fact they can think what they like,as I categorically stated I was not addressing the hindu kashmris but the muslims kashmiris whoose appearance (kashmiri proper) speaks for itself and it is these people I was addressing and not the hindu kashmris when I said “this is the reason why northern kashmiris are known as the whitest people in the world and not cos of the so called aryan invasion of india” I dont see anywhere in this statement where I have denied aryan blood.
“Finally, I am told even an effort is being made to Semitize people all over the world for political reasons including the Aryan people of Iran”
I am told the sun goes round the moon. I am told the earth is flat. I am told the earth is round. I am told told the rain falls from the sky. I am told the river joins the sea. I am told…. but so what? I am told.
Yim photograph che asal Kashir.
It seems bona fide is one of those Semites (Jewish-Arab origin) trying to Semitize us Aryans.
Buy shuche che wanana chu sukh so go mut Bara Mulla (Vraha Mulla) thate lagi puta kush shoo Aryan. Ish hase se banimeta Musalman gude use us Hind. Muslam chu Arabic (Semitic) nave the kayal.
Best of luck Semite try you luck with Aryan Ammadinejad he follows a Semitic (Arab-Jewish) religion the great Islam and also has a Semitic name. In Kashmir you can not create a controversy not plant data to make us proud residents of Ancient Aryavarta (land of Aryans) into Semites (Jews or Arabns). Nor can you create a rift between us Muslims and Hindus. Ache che baradar. http://www.rferl.org/content/Were_Ahmadinejads_Ancestors_Jews_/1375318.html
Kum photo se yim. Man gom khush. Bhutta falav Kashiri munjh behe. Aes she ashal Aryan, pratham Aryan.
Read the comment again you Joker and you might understand what I said. Dont delude yourself that muslims want to live amongst you hindus thats the root of the problem so dot delude yourself with this create a rift crap. Do you honestly believe you hindus are wanted by muslims? lol. Your hindus where muslims. You to your religion us to our religon. Simple as black and white.
“It seems bona fide is one of those Semites (Jewish-Arab origin) trying to Semitize us Aryans”
Read my comment there is no seems about it and the comment is not addressing you hindu jokers but if you want to press for language then aryan jokers.
Great pictures reflect India’s colourfullness. Most Indians follow Mahatma Gandhi and rarely suffer from delusions. Delusions are a Western problem mainly. Best of luck to any foreigners trying to influence India. Try reading Kipling.
Since you people have with pride retained our extraordinary and time-tested tradition, I suggest read the works (if you have not already read these classics) of the great Anand Koul and PNK. While Anand is focussed and objective PNK has a lot of data in his book. Also the Aryan past of India and the Kashmiri Pandits is on solid roots which can not be shaken by all foreign propaganda and agenda. The Vedic bone initiation is a common practice in modern Kashmir to this day.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8725848659250172378&ei=DTcgSqDgEIq0qQLuosmZAg&q=Aryan+Bone&hl=en
Thuy shuy Mubarak. Kashur beni the Bhaiyaun Kandhur photo whecit gey sone gara khosh.
My family in winter goes to Delhi for a few weeks and we meet many Kashmiris. In Kashmiri Emporium we met many Bhata and Bhatanis all wearing the deghor. My husband and family were happy to see you all maintain our culture. I saw few Bhatas and Bhatnis (very few) coping the Punjabis in Delhi in dress and culture and even many had become as dark as the Punjabis. These were not that many but few. Kasmiriyat has solid roots.
Great Khandar Photographs may Allah bless this pretty couple.
Dr. M.A. Jan
Tapeshwar Ganju June 7, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Also the Aryan past of India and the Kashmiri Pandits is on solid roots which can not be shaken by all foreign propaganda and agenda.
Nobody is denying the Aryan past of india you idiot what people are denying is that you as you physically look like today in the present here and now your appearance as it is now your hair eyes skin physical genetic make up are a blood representation of what the aryans looked like them thousands of years ago they resided in india without any additional blood mixture from other races that is what people are denying. Get it?
Tapeshwar Ganju is correct. In my opinion bona fide is one insecure Semite finding it difficult to Semitize our land. We were Aryans, are Aryans and will be Aryans the most of us. Other races in India exist and they are also respected and India is also their mother. Grea wedding photos.
Traveling a lot it amazes me as to how colourful God made our planet. Extraordinary culture and photographs. I am a Semite (Jewish) and have great respect for the Hindu-Buddhist civilization, which has Aryan roots. Yet let us never forget what the wicked Nazis under the pretext of your Aryan and Swastika did to the world. We do not blame you but the Nazis but some Semites have become insecure. Would you not? Some Semites even paid money to other Semites (the Arabs) to penetrate the Muslims of Iran and India and try to brainwash them into believing that these Aryans are Semites (children of Abraham, like Jews and Arabs). I agree India is a great Aryan nation but let us always condemn the Nazis. Don not forget also the wicked Heinrich Himmler quoted the sacred Bhagwad Gita (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Himmler)to push his barbaric goals. Thus never ignore this.
Great going Kashmiri Girl….U r doing simply great..m sorry to know that you had to suffer so much in Kashmir….have never been there n have no desire to go to a plc where u r not safe…u r giving these stupid muslims like Butt a rum for their money…I wish they just get abolished from this earth..all the terrorist organizations today are muslims only…why?? coz they are complete fanatics…
Very descriptive and cultural photographs. Kasmiriyat is in tact in Kashmir a few fanatics can not spoil the things now—http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7965451.stm
Nice photos. I visit J&K often and find nearly more Dughurers in Jammu then in Kashmir now! It is a pretty piece of Kashmiri Brahmin wedding sign. Hope to see an increase in these in Kashmir in the future. My wife is a Jamwal Rajput.
I was touched to see the nationalism displayed by this young Kashmiri boy, who laid his life for his motherland India. The J&K region has produced great warriors if you see the records of the First and second World War.
While there is a lot of disinformation in the global media, the largest recruits in the Indian Army (though J@K and Himachal Rajputs also are in great numbers) is from the State of Uttar Pradesh. I would agree (if you check the records) U.P. has produced many a formidable soldier as well.
Brig. R.S. Chauhan, Retd.
Tara Chand June 21, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Tapeshwar Ganju is correct. In my opinion bona fide is one insecure Semite finding it difficult to Semitize our land. We were Aryans, are Aryans and will be Aryans the most of us. Other races in India exist and they are also respected and India is also their mother. Grea wedding photos.
No one is trying to semitize you Joker, no one can change what is, re-read the comment joker it isnt even directed at you as you call yourselves “aryan” hindu jokers!
Excited to see the wedding dress photographs. Such headress reflects India at her best.
I would ignore foreign elements on this forum such as bona fide. He or she has an agenda in India, which I am sure will never succeed.
112 Rahul
June 28, 2009 at 6:12 pm
“I would ignore foreign elements on this forum such as bona fide. He or she has an agenda in India, which I am sure will never succeed”
If you would ignore then why have you not done what you have just said in stead of just saying it you Joker? You cant even understand how ridiculous you sound. Agenda? Despite the fact I have made my argument and the people to whom it was addressed to categorically clear you hindus insist on plucking things out of thin air e.g like I want to semitize hindus. As for foreign elements my roots are from kashmir you Jokers! It is NOT a wonder It is NOT even a mystery the white skinned european caucasions laugh and snigger behind your back while smiling and nodding there heads when you tell them you are aryans! I have not even attributed anything to hindus in my comments never mind want to semitize them,obviously your statements trying to attribute to me things I have not said reflects your incapacity to understand as if you understood you would not have come out with such nonsensical/invalid and unjustifiable statements as you have so unless you are clear in your understanding its better for you to stay quite. You are hindus are Aryans, there its said where is the semitization in this?! What is the problem why are you still not happy??? LOL! Enjoy the feel good factor in being what you claim to be-Aryans! LOL. Ive said and categorically made clear what I need to on the subject. Buh Byeeeee!
kashmiri men and women suffered from miseries by bloody indian dirty people.however what india has done with us we will not forget in our lives,one thing i want to tell if i will found any begger indian in kashmir i will kick his ass.
Excellent wedding images. I womder when we shall again see more Kashmiri women in the ancient Pheron: http://www.imkashmiri.com/articles/k_gal.jpg
The whole of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is historically and politically a part of India.
The Chinese are killing my Muslim brothers and the Pakistanis are killing innocent people. The only stable, secular and great democracy in our region is India a diverse united land of 1.2 billion people. History will prove that I am right that Kashmiris shall love (most love India) India even more than now. We need not boast the fighting abilities of Indians see the Victoria Crosses won.
I hail from M.P. and am a Misra. In Kashmir this name becomes Misri. I have had many Kashmiri Brahmin friends and must mention I admire them in many ways. These people have retained their culture and integrity and these photographs reflect this.
Kum Kum Misra
P.S. The name Misra arises from the Sanskrit word mizr for mix.
The Photographs are great and brought out in me childhood memories. In our village in Kashmir there were 13 Kashmiri Pandit families now there happen to be only 3 stayed We might not be living together we still have cordial relations and strong bonds with our neighbours who left during the dark ages of the 80s.
I move all over India and was very happy to note you Brahmins Brothers and Sisters of mine have kept your culture and traditions. A few have married out particularly in neighbouring Punjab. Note the culture of Punjab is quite different from the Valley and the Punjabis are usually much darker people also. Many castes in Punjab marry any one. Also the Punjabi is a trader mostly, while Kashmiri Brahmins are intellects. The love of money has brought the Punjabi and Jewish people (both beautiful people but they both love money) very close. See in Delhi the Jewish people and Punjabis have a close cultural and trading relationship. The Kashmiri Pandit does have contempt for money and loves knowledge. Thus these photographs meant much to me to see our (our culture has much in common) alive in different regions of India. Salaam, peace is on its way surely.
Prof. Agha Farooq Mehdi
Budgam
You are a hindu pundit rat who lives in fantasies and false dreams. Hindu pundits are uncleaned dirty untouchable people
The man pretending to be a Muslim Kashmiri is not a Kashmiri but a foreigner. Hat haaj yey shnoo Kashur.
Kashmiri Muslims like me are proud to see such photographs. Your culture and values are rich and time-tested. May Allah bless you both!
India is a great democracy while our neighbour China is a brutal country killing Muslims with impunity.
Who supplies weapons to China? The answer is Israel.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4101961.stm
My whole family supports the Indian democracy and India is a superpower now. India is the most secular land on our planet
I admire your culture as I do the diversity of India. Captivating photographs!
I thing the chap Mehdi seems to be a little political. I agree many of us Punjabis are from the Khatri (respected merchant) caste but what do we have to do with the Jews? We are Aryans surely, the Jews are Semites (both Jews and Arabs are cousins and Semites).
Great wedding pictures. Mehdi is correct India is a mosaic and should stay that way. This makes our land colourful.
To S. Wani
You are not muslim , you are hindu, may god put you in the hell for your love for india where you would burn forever.
Some of you KPs living in Delhi have started to imitate the Punjabis, who are more often dark skinned and go only after money like their Jewish friends.
Truly enlightened to learn about the cultural diversity of India. The photographs mesmerized me. Clearly it makes evident that the great Aryan traditions of India are intact. Do not be fooled by data coming from the West or their Indian followers, this Race is originally from India and also your language Sanskrit is the oldest Indo-European language. No honest man will use the outside criterion for the purity of the Aryan Race or the purity of Rig Vedic Sanskrit. Both are the real yard sticks of the Aryan civilization. Thus ignore foreigners and their Indian followers in re-interpreting your great culture. Our Lord Buddha was an Aryan Primce too.
usman.. ur funny…
pls keep posting..
ur thoughts make me laugh…
arent u the ones who run the pakistani army..
hehehehhe.. nice..
aweosme.. keep posting..
muah/…
if we would not have people like u on earth how would general people would know what assholes look like…
hehehehehe…