Gulmarg fashion show sparks row in Indian-administered Kashmir | Global News Avenue

A fashion show last week in a picturesque snow town managed by India sparked a controversy that is still working hard.

The show was held by the famous fashion brand Shivan & Narresh by the ski resort in Gulmarg last Friday, showing off their collection of ski suits. The tag is the first large non-local brand to hold a fashion show in Kashmir, a scenic Himalayan region that has been violent for decades.

However, this quickly sparked anger among Muslim-majority locals, politicians and religious leaders in Kashmir, after fashion publisher Elle India posted a video on social media showing some models wearing underwear or bikini. Locals were also angry at another video shared by another magazine, Lifestyle, about a party that showed people drinking outdoors.

Many have performed the holy month of Ramadan (fasting and praying for Muslims) and accused the designers of “mocking their faith” and “ignoring the local culture and emotions.” Some clergy called the show “obscene” and said it was like “soft porn”.

Some others explained that this anger was not only caused by religious conservatism, but also feared the cultural collection of “outsiders.” Kashmir has witnessed decades of armed separatist insurgency against India since the late 1980s.

The rebound prompted Elle Indian and Asian lifestyle to delete their videos. The designers behind the label Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja also apologized, saying their “only intention is to celebrate creativity” and that they do not intend to offend religious sentiments.

Kashmir – known as the land of Saints and Sufis (Islamic Mysticism) – has a rich spiritual tradition that affects many aspects of people’s lives. Traditional dress is modest, and locals (both men and women) often wear long and loose cloaks.

The bank also left social media and had discussions on the show, while the party caused a commotion at Jamu and Kashmir conventions.

Opposition criticized the government, accusing the government of allowing the activity despite awareness of local sensitivity. Meanwhile, Jamu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stayed away from his government, saying it was organized by a private entity and asked local authorities to investigate the matter and submit a report.

“If the law is violated, strict action will be taken.” Police have not provided details on who organized the event and which laws, if any, were violated.

Fashion brands did not respond to the BBC’s questions about the show, including the permissions obtained.

Not surprisingly, the scenic India is one of the few ski destinations in India and a favorite among tourists – a venue for display that highlights the performance of the ski installation.

Fashion journalist Shefalee Vasudev said it is not uncommon for designers to want to hold fashion shows in beautiful places.

In fact, international designers like Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld are remembered for their creative dramatic fashion shows, just like their signature designs.

However, experiments pose a risk of controversy, so it is important to pay attention to a place’s political and cultural sensitivity, Ms Vasudev told the BBC.

This is especially true in places like Kashmir, which witnessed war and decades of armed conflict.

Both India and Pakistan fully claim that Kashmir has complete control over Kashmir, but only in parts of the country. Since the zoning of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947, nuclear weapons neighbors have fought two wars on the territory.

Thousands of people have been killed since the late 1980s, when separatist insurgents violated Indian rule. Although the separatist movement has lost momentum over the years, many locals continue to look at the Delhi government with distrust.

These sentiments have deepened since 2019 when the federal government led by the party of Indian nationalist Bharatiya Janata has deprived the region of autonomy.

So some locals told the BBC that they weren’t surprised by the performance’s reaction.

“Everything in Kashmir is political; people see things through political prisms,” said Mir, a professor at a local university. He added that people are skeptical about large corporate events such as fashion shows, even if they are organized by private players, who believe the government is working to dilute their culture.

Researcher Arshid Ahmad uses stronger words to express public anxiety. “The government is trying to dilute the Kashmiris’ spirit of resistance,” he said.

This is not the first time that an event held by non-locality has sparked controversy in Kashmir. In 2013, separatists and human rights activists in the region protested the performance of famous commander Zubin Mehta. them explain The government is trying to show the world that people are in Kashmir when they are “suffering and dying”.

Some recent concerns about culture and identity may also be related to the increase in visitors to Kashmir in other states in India. Federal Government Connect frequently This tourism boom, abolished Article 370, which deprived the area of ​​its autonomy.

Nousheen Fatima, 34, said people outside Kashmir now believe the region is safer and “more assimilated to India” due to government messaging. But she claims many tourists do not respect the region’s culture.

last year, Video shows tourists Drinking while on a boat ride in Srinagar’s famous Dal Lake has aroused the anger of political and religious leaders, who called this behavior “non-Islamic and immoral.”

February, Locals put posters In Srinagar, visitors were asked to “respect local culture and traditions” and “avoid alcohol and drug use” but were later removed by police.

exist editorial Regarding the voice of fashion magazines, Ms. Vasudev believes that anger needs to be checked from the critical lens. She asked the show to be held in another Indian city instead of Kashmir and Muslims will also observe Ramadan, which is correct. If only costumes are considered modest, is it acceptable to hold a show in Kashmir.

She also noted that Kashmir is “the best wool yarn in the world; some of the best Handspuns, hand-woven Pashmina Creations and their craftsmen.”

“The Kashmir-created and representative representatives cannot be reproduced anywhere. At that time, shouldn’t the Gurmag fashion show be seen as a rebirth in an unlimited way in innovative clothing made of 100% wool?” she asked.

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