Day-1 G20 Delegates receive a royal welcome with Pagris, Tilaks, and Marigold Showers/ Rashmi Talwar / GREATER JAMMU

Day-1 KASHMIR G20

G 20 delegates receive a royal welcome with Pagris, Tilaks, and Marigold Showers

Day-1 KASHMIR G20

G 20 delegates receive a royal welcome with Pagris, Tilaks and Marigold Showers

Rashmi Talwar

SRINAGAR J&K 22 May 2023 ————–

Amidst the beat of Dhols, delegates from 17, G-20 member countries and guest country invitees were offered a royal welcome with red velvet traditional Indian umbrellas held aloft their heads by individual umbrella bearers reminding one of the days of the Rajas and Maharajas. Alongside Kashmiri girls performed the typical Kashmiri Roff dance.  Delegates were ushered in and accorded a warm welcome, anointed with Saffron Tilaks, a Saffron Pagri or Turban placed on their bare heads, and showered with saffron-colored fragrant marigold petals at the premises of Lalit Hotel, in Srinagar-Kashmir hosting the biggest International event in decades. 

Few foreign Delegates were seen carrying their own luggage or strolling them along the bridge of the famous hotel that has hosted many a star on the world horizon. As Kashmiri music with its typical Santoor, Rabab, and Tumbaknari instrumental melody wafted from a stage in the entryway of the hotel lobby accompanied by a rhythmic playing of ghara or earthen utensil. A sizzling Bhangra, a cultural dance from the neighbouring state of Punjab enraptured the delegates with vigorous rhythmic steps, loud claps and pauses. Some Kashmiri detractors sniggered over the ‘tilak’ as a Hindu custom and saffron colors which they said typified the political color symbols of the ruling BJP party in the country. 

On the delegates’ itinerary after the vigorous session were 15 places to visit including Shalimar Mughal Gardens, Bakshi Stadium, Government Arts Emporium housed in a heritage building from the British times, the Pari Mahal a palace cum observatory high over the city built in 17 century by Dara Shikoh son of Emperor Shah Jahan and brother of Aurangzeb, newly renovated Zero Bridge, Polo view the market of 1954 recently spruced up for G20.

 The TRC football stadium; Chashme Shahi Gardens- oozes the purest spring waters known to be specially flown for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. With it a ‘shikara’ or Kashmiri boat ride with heart-shaped paddles; a visit to the Char Chinari or the island of four Chinar Trees, the SPS Museum that houses nearly 80,000 treasures. 

Of course, the guests would be watched closely though discreetly by Marine frogmen of commandos patrolling the waters of the Dal lake with highly sophisticated TATA night visions, the national security guards stationed to prevent fidayeen attacks and counter-drone operations, the special operations group of J&K police and Indian army at checkpoint keeping a high powered vigil over the priced guests in the highly sensitive region. About 160 CCTV cameras were up across the city in a state of high preparedness with daily drills at the conference venue. While CRPF forces are deputed on anti-mine operations, the Special Operations Group (SOG) has been deployed for the first time to secure a civilian population.

The event recorded the highest participation compared to the first two tourism working group meetings of G20 at Rann of Kutch and Siliguri.

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Gulmarg, Dachigam tour Cancelled for G20

Owing to security issues and adverse reports, the scheduled sightseeing visit to the Dachigam National Wildlife Park and the tourist Hotspot Gulmarg or Meadow of Flowers in North Kashmir have been dropped from the itinerary, which was to showcase tourism for G20 delegates. It was canceled at the nth moment even as vigorous preparations were ongoing for the international event. A senior official at the ongoing project told the writer that the cancellation was due to a serious threat perception.

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Lal Chowk shop owners to keep shops open all three days of G20

Shopkeepers of the Lal Chowk, the hub of Srinagar and a center point for all protests, hartals, and any form of civil disobedience, have been asked by the city administration in accordance with the foreign office and Ministry of Home to keep their shops open for all three days of the G20 Meet in the city.

 They have all been issued passes in the area which is under high vigil lest some hardcore attack or even stray mischief may sour the taste or could be staged in protest against the G20 session in J&K which some countries have boycotted including China supporting Pakistan, Turkiye, and Indonesia. Meantime, the J&K Police issued an advisory against international mobile numbers used for spreading rumors in the union territory as people in the valley reported getting automated calls from some odd numbers.

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Exhibition of crafts of Kashmir at SKICC            

An exhibition of Kashmiri handicrafts, including papier mache, wood carving, carpets and shawls, walnuts, and wild produce was displayed at 11 stalls at the Sher E Kashmir Convention Center SKICC the venue of the G20 meeting.

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Terror Mastermind wife gives a call to Kashmiris to boycott G20

Mashal Mallik wife of Yasin Mallik, the mastermind of terrorism in Kashmir, screamed from the mike of the Bol TV Channel from Pakistan and gave a call to Kashmiris to boycott the ongoing G20 International Meet held in Srinagar Kashmir.

 She exhorted them to rebel and sit-in protest in a ‘hartal’ or strike mode to object to the holding of the International event in Kashmir and accuse the country of betraying the cause of Kashmir and its liberation, ‘Modi is celebrating over Kashmiri blood and graves’ she cried, trying to evoke gullible Kashmiris to rebel.  However, she and her ranting were able to garner only 125 likes on YouTube.

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Points on Tourism Enhancement in J&K

·         Under its presidency India has so far held 108 meetings in various parts of the country, the Srinagar Tourism being one of the most impressive under tense circumstances.

·         G20 chief coordinator Harshvardhan Shringala said that the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar has the highest dedicated participation and will be the most significant event held in Jammu and Kashmir.

·         Promoting film tourism in J&K G20 chief coordinator said that a draft National Strategy on Film Tourism will be unveiled to provide road map for the role of films as promoters of tourist destinations.

·         The meeting is set to deliberate on five key priority areas, which include ‘Green Tourism’, ‘Digitalization’, MSME, and ‘Destination Management’ these priorities are key building blocks for accelerating the transaction of the tourism sector and achieving the targets. Film Tourism is ideal for economic growth and cultural preservation and G20 will focus on strategies to promote film tourism and will invite international organizations and industries besides stakeholders, to strategize the format.

·         About 300 new tourist destinations are in the pipeline in Jammu and Kashmir and  Srinagar aims to strengthen economic growth, preserve cultural heritage and promote sustainable development of the region

·         Ram Charan, a famous South Indian actor shook a leg with foreign delegates on the Oscar-winning song ‘Naatu Naatu’. The actor landed here to participate in a side event of the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in Kashmir Valley. He is among the representatives of the Indian film industry at the summit to discuss film tourism for economic growth and cultural preservation.

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Bridal Beauty walks the red carpet for G-20 Tourism Session in Srinagar / Rashmi Talwar/ GREATER JAMMU

G-20 SRINAGAR  

Bridal Beauty walks the red carpet for G 20 Tourism Session in Srinagar

G-20 Tourism Session

Bridal Beauty walks the red carpet for G20

Rashmi Talwar

SRINAGAR J&K, 21stMay 2023—

As the clock strikes at midnight, -the land of Rishi Kashap Kashmir decked up in bridal finery steps out to a new dawn.It reminds me of poet Rainer Maria-

Weavers weaving at fall of night,

Why do you weave a garment so bright?

Like the blooms of a peacock purple and green

We weave the marriage veil of a queen.   

Indeed Kashmir, the crown of India, and the G20 International- walked hand in hand, to tear apart clouds of gloom, onto the road of happily ever, passing  Bollard lights of the Indian  Tricolor outlining roads from Indira Gandhi Airport Srinagar en route to the shimmering waters of the Dal Lake.

It is a new Kashmir, a modern Kashmir where the Jhelum bank is decked in flowers where loudspeakers once rolled out loud, and soft music plays in rhythm with the whistling wind.

“Each true Kashmiri heart is joyous and proud of the city hosting G20) Tourism session,” says a senior Kashmiri lady. “We may have set aside our culture, but this joy is unsurpassable- “Let such joy prevail, Cultures come and go!”

Tariq Mir, a media person comments – The international event has come as a blessing, as under it, the smart city work has picked up at a supersonic pace including beautification. Abid, a bureaucrat inserts that the G20 should be extended so that all beautification works can be completed in record time.

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‘Smiles as wide as a mile’

Greater Jammu found a palpable excitement in the air as ‘smiles as wide as a mile’ met everywhere, although thorough checking and security apparatus was spread throughout the paradisiac land. “Abrogation of Article 370 &35A has led the older lot of politicians to change tactics to woo the electorate and match with the pulse of the people, who are hungry for normalcy; the former rulers seem to have toned down their restrictive, controlling, and vitriolic comments.  

Where nightlife was nil, the stadium played matches under power lights carry on till 10 pm unheard of in decades. Hotels are booming with cent percent bookings. The trickle of tourists in turmoil times has turned into lakhs. The year-round season is the new flavour of Kashmir.

 An orthodox culture was melting and the subdued female gender is once again flowering in full form. Girls are topping school, college, board, and University exams, stepping out vigorously to claim their space in the sun. A copper utensil shop owner thanked the new ruling dispensation of the state for getting rid of the theatre of stone pelting and the hartal calendars. Now businesses have a chance to pick up”. Men women born in 50s and 60s freely talk about a fashionable Kashmir-“The beauty and grace of Kashmiris was matchless. Our pride spelled  gloom for us”, says Shaista  adding –“After ages we witness and taste freedom from the stranglehold of tradition, fear, and faith to push us deep down.”

A youngster from Burnhall school says he loved watching ‘Pathan’ movie in the cinema hall – Matinee Show !! I saw the entire hall wearing masks. It wasn’t protection against infection but hide as fear factor prevailed. Now, not a single one is wearing a mask.

Rilke a poet said –“Let everything happen to you, because beauty and terror just keep going, no feeling is final.”

Abid, a bureaucrat tells me Kashmir has turned into an all-season destination. Film shootings are rivaling each other Boys and girls are not only fascinated but opportunity is striking at their doorstep, many are thus absorbed in the fields where their ideals have made names. Huma Qureshi, a Gurezi Kashmiri is much adored. Music and performing greats inspire, it has in turn given a fillip to celebrity tourism.

People who have seen only death and doom in years feel that the development pace shouldn’t slow down and one or other international events should step into Kashmir soon so that incomplete works can complete in record time. The freedom has also come to new liquor shops opening in tourism heavy city.

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Call from Across the Border

Abid, an IAS officer told this writer –“Kashmir received the dreadful call from across the border to impose a hartal, where black to protest against the G20 in Kashmir. All shopkeepers downed their shutters in Lal Chowk as was the norm. Two shops opened their shops and started doing the daily chores of cleaning and setting up products and goods on display, which triggered the strength in each shopkeeper to lift the shop shutters and defy the diktats from masterminds of terror, operating from Pakistan and elsewhere in the world. The Hartal call was not called off but defied in all forms of defiance.

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Exciting European Plaza

The Polo view market famous for handicrafts, a 200-meter stretch, had a makeover with flowers and tree-rounder seaters and squares, where people relaxed and rolled under the shade of trees, watching and admiring the beauty of flowers, spend a relaxed time. Well, so excited were the people that students, elderly, middle-aged, children, security forces, vendors, drivers, shopkeepers, the busy baker, and even shikarawalas and every Kashmiri worth his salt were seen clicking selfies at the spot to be part of the new age beauty spot that stretched about 200 meters of a model Street of the poshest shopping complex.

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Srinagar Spruced up

A senior official connected with  Unesco’s Handicraft Project – commented “Srinagar is a lot prettier and a lot cleaner! Beautiful wood signage, and smart bicycles free to rent, is such a wholly pleasant sight. The bicycles are quite an attraction and cycle tracks were built at Rajbagh and the Bund. Uniform color-coded footpaths their layout matches any metro city. Under the handicraft policy they are engaging Kashmiri artists and have created 4600 cooperative societies their actual number of artisans is 3.5 lakh, The G20 is going to give a fillip to more exports which have already captured the markets of Germany, the US, and UK with our carpets pashmina, walnuts, sozni embroidery,  paper mache.

So much so that women have come up with innovative ideas and leading in e-commerce with bakeries, jams, pickles cakes, and other goodies. They are shunning stereotypes and have entered no entry zones of Gyming. So now you see not only two girls in the gym without any male escort, but a mother-daughter gyming side by side, father gyming with daughter, even girlfriend-boyfriend culture is quite free with frequent activities together in the gym and tuition classes space as well as play fields. Similarly, Nightlife is picking up, tastefully done liquor outlets have opened and Cinemas have become the great liberators from hide-and-watch corners by youngsters.

It is now common to see girls in jeans and t-shirts and it is quite accepted as a mode of dressing, therefore there is no one who eyes girls wearing Western garments such as jeans. Girls drive cars and scooties fearlessly, comments Tariq Mir. “ The moot thing is fear has  vanished from the Kashmiri Stratosphere- Now who dares  to question a girl on the street about her clothes, appearance, work, or activities behind closed doors like singing, acting, and dancing or in the open- like sports or riding a heavy-duty mo-bike and becoming a vlogger ?” Those dreadful days are gone from Kashmir …..To Be Continued …