Heaven-ly strides

While the sound of bullets and bomb explosions rents the air on most days,on October 11 at the Zabarwan Park in Srinagar,Sukhwinder Singhs robust rendition of Fashion ka hai yeh jalwa played on...

While the sound of bullets and bomb explosions rents the air on most days,on October 11 at the Zabarwan Park in Srinagar,Sukhwinder Singhs robust rendition of Fashion ka hai yeh jalwa played on,with amateur models walking the ramp in dapper outfits and weaving a magic all its own. Although they may be commonplace for most Indians,scenes like the one described above are something a majority of young Kashmiris have not seen in a long time,if at all.

This watershed event,(held just two days after a four-day encounter between the Indian Army and Lashkar-e-Tayyeba militants ended) signifies the coming-to-fore of the dormant desire of ordinary Kashmiri youth to lead as normal a life as possible. We have seen a lot in the years since the unending cycle of violence began in Kashmir. There are no sources of entertainment,so to say,in the Valley. There was one theatre in Srinagar,which too,had to be shut down. Thats why,this fashion show assumes so much importance, says Basharat Wani,who belongs to the troubled Sopore town,north-west of Srinagar.

Held in the backdrop of the Zabarwan Hills,a range of clothes was showcased at the event,including kurta-pyjamas in varied designs,along with casuals and formals.

With most audience members,including young women,cheering the models as they walked down the ramp,more than just the sale of a few well-tailored clothes was at stake here. Starting precisely at 7.10 pm and continuing well into the evening,the Zabarwan Hills stood silent witnesses to this fashion extravaganza. And as Mohsin Peer,another model says,For anyone who hasnt had a first-hand experience of the past two traumatic decades,it is difficult to understand what the fuss is all about. But for those who have,it is a huge step forward,in the right direction.

For most Kashmiri models and choreographers in Pune,the event is something really special,and for more reasons than one. Its good to hear that a fashion show was held in Srinagar,although Kashmiris in Pune may find it hard to believe,at first. But it feels great that such an event took place there, says Kohposh Sapru,a city-based model and a semi-finalist at the Gladrags Manhunt 2008.

Seconding him,Umar Nazir,winner of the Mr Pune 2008 contest,says such events help in bringing to the fore latent modeling talent in the Kashmir Valley. There are scores of boys out there,who can do really well in modeling. Such events give them much-needed encouragement, adds Nazir.

Another city-based model and choreographer Kashif Shaikh says Kashmiris do very well in modeling since they possess natural good looks and impressive personalities. Most Kashmiris are blessed with great looks and good bearing. They just need to get some basic training to do really well in the fashion industry, asserts Shaikh.

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fashion

Heaven-ly strides

While the sound of bullets and bomb explosions rents the air on most days,on October 11 at the Zabarwan Park in Srinagar,Sukhwinder Singhs robust rendition of Fashion ka hai yeh jalwa played on...

While the sound of bullets and bomb explosions rents the air on most days,on October 11 at the Zabarwan Park in Srinagar,Sukhwinder Singhs robust rendition of Fashion ka hai yeh jalwa played on...