Gulmarg Sparks Row’s fashion show in India administered Kashmir

A fashion show held last week in a picturesque, snow -dressed city in India -administered Kashmir, has caused a great dispute that is still a boil.

The show, from the famous Shivan & Narresh fashion brand, took place last Friday at a Gulmarg ski resort to show off its ski clothing collection. The label is the first large, non-local brand to carry out a fashion show in Kashmir, a picturesque Himalayan region, which has been observed for decades.

But soon this caused outrage among locals, politicians and religious leaders in the Muslim majority Kashmir after fashion publisher Elle India has published a video on social media showing some models wearing lingerie or bikini. The locals were also angry with another video – shared by online magazine Lifestyle Asia – at a party held after the show, which shows that people drink outdoor alcohol.

Many were offended by the show held in the Holy Month Ramadan – a time of fasting and prayer for Muslims – and accused the designers of “mocking their faith” and “neglecting local culture and moods.” Some clergy called the show “obscene” and said it was like “soft porn”.

Some others have explained that outrage has arisen not only from religious conservatism, but also of fear of cultural imposition by “outsiders”. Kashmir has witnessed the decades of armed separatist uprisings against the Indian government since the late 1980s.

The reverse reaction prompted Elle India and Lifestyle Asia to delete their videos. Shivan Bhati and Kuziya story, the designers behind the label also apologized, saying that their “only intention is to celebrate creativity” and that they do not intend to offend religious sentiment.

Kashmir – known as the land of saints and Sufism (Islamic mysticism) – has a rich tradition of spirituality that affects many aspects of people’s lives. Traditional clothing is modest, with locals – both men and women – often wearing a Ferran, a long, free cloak.

The order also moved to social media and a discussion about the show, and after the party sparked a mine at the Jamu and Kashmir meeting.

The opposition criticizes the government, accusing him of giving permission for the event, although he is aware of local sensitivity. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Jamu and Kashmir Omar Abdulla was distancing his government from the event, saying it was organized by private entities and asks local authorities to investigate the issue and submit a report.

“If the law is violated, strict action will be taken,” he said in the Assembly on Monday. The police have not yet given details of who organized the event and what laws, if any, have been violated.

The fashion brand did not answer the BBC questions about the show, including the permissions received.

Not surprisingly, the Scenic Gulmarg – one of the few ski destinations in India and a beloved with tourists – was the choice of a show that emphasizes the ski clothing collection.

The fashion journalist Shefalee Vasudev says it is not uncommon for designers to want to conduct fashion reviews in fine places.

In fact, international designers such as Alexander McQueen and Karl Lagerfeld are remembered as much of their creative, theatrical fashion shows as it is for their emblematic designs.

But experimenting carries with it the risk of dispute, and it is important to take into account the political and cultural sensitivity of a place, G -Ja Vasudev told the BBC.

And this is especially true on the spot as Kashmir, which has witnessed wars and decades of armed conflict.

Both India and Pakistan claim that Kashmir completely, but they control it only in parts. After the division of India and the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, nuclear armed neighbors waged two wars over the territory.

Thousands of people have been killed since the late 1980s, when the separatist uprising broke out against the Indian rule. Although the separatist movement has lost steam over the years, many locals continue to look at the Delhi administration with distrust.

These moods have deepened since 2019, when the federal government, led by the Hindu Nationalist Party Bharatiy Gianna, undressed the region of his autonomy.

So some locals told the BBC that they were not surprised by the show’s reactions.

“Everything in Kashmir is political; people see things through a political prism,” says Mir, a professor at a local university (he asked for his surname to be detained to protect his identity). He adds that people are skeptical of major corporate events such as fashion show and – even if they are organized by private players – they believe that the government is trying to dilute its culture.

Arshid Ahmad, a researcher, uses stronger words to express public anger. “The government is trying to resolve the spirit of resistance in Kashmiris,” he says.

This is not the first time an event conducted by the non-lokali has caused a dispute in Kashmir. In 2013, separatists and human rights activists in the region protested against the show of the famous conductor Zubin Mehta. They said It was the government’s attempt to show the world that everything was fine in Kashmir when people “suffer and die.”

Some of the latest concerns about culture and identity can also be tied to increasing tourists with cashmere from other states in India. Federal government often connects This boom in tourism until the cancellation of Article 370, which encloses the region of its autonomy.

The 34 -year -old Nousheen Fatima says that because of government reports, people outside Kashmir now see the region as more festive and “more assimilated by India”. However, she claims that many tourists do not respect the culture of the region.

Last year, a A video showing tourists Drinking alcohol while walking on a boat on the famous lake Dahl in Srinagar has caused outrage from political and religious leaders who called the behavior “non -Islamic and unethical.”

In February, Local residents put posters In Srinagar, prayers tourists to “respect local culture and traditions” and “avoid alcohol and drug use”, but later they were overthrown by police.

In editorial For the magazine “Voice of Maud” D -Ja Vasudev claims that outrage should be considered by a critical lens. She asks if it would be good for the show to be held in another Indian city instead of Kashmir, where Muslims will also watch Ramadan. And whether it would be acceptable to hold the show in Kashmir if he only includes outfits perceived as modest.

She also points out that Kashmir is home to “the best wool yarn in the world; Some of the best hands, hand -woven creations of Pashmina and her craftsmen. “

“What Kashmir creates and stands cannot be reproduced anywhere. Shouldn’t the Gulmarg fashion show then, with innovative clothing made with 100% wool, be regarded as a regenerating interest in unverified ways?” she asks.

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