Unbelievably! Kashmir took most of my time in India, as I happened to explore every single dimension that it endorsed. One of my journalist friend, Max, is living in Kashmir, for last 4 years and provides information about the state to a news channel. As I visited his house, he forced me to spent few days with him. And here my luck striked again. He was living in a block where most of the Kashmiris were residing, in this way I came to know many things about them. Kashmiri's are quite friendly and open to strangers. But due to the rising terrorism, they have become isolated from the rest of the world.... not their fault.

As I spoke to few of the Kashmiris's near by I came to know anout their festivals. The most important festivals that are celebrated with a zeal are 'Maha-Shivratri', 'Janamashtami', 'Jyesht Ashtami' and 'Navreh'.These festivals inculcate certain disciplines, that are instrumental in getting the whole family together and also paving the way for an opportunity for the youngsters to imbibe some important traits like comradeship, obedience and also a sense of tradition.

There was one more thing that I noticed that was quite unique------their costumes. Especially the villagers had a unique way of styling themselves. Both men and men used to wear long flowing dress called Pheran. The woman pheran had wide sleeves overturned and fringed with brocaded or embroidered stripes. The women adorned themselves with big round nose pin and long ear rings.And they wear a head gear called Taranga.

I also happened to see one of the marriages conducted in the region. Kashmiri's are highly cultural and orthodox people. They first match the horsoscopes (A numerological way presenting you time of birth, degrees of lattitude and longitude at your birth). The wedding date is proposed by the bride's parents. Once the groom's parents also give their consent, the priest (purohit) fixes the wedding date.