Roots and Reflections - Exploring Ideas, Experiences and Wisdom

Kashmir is renowned across the world for its breathtaking natural beauty, majestic mountains, serene lakes, lush green landscapes and colourful gardens. Among the many attractions that add to the charm of the Valley, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar occupies a special place. Spread across the foothills of the Zabarwan Range and overlooking the magnificent Dal Lake, the garden has emerged as one of the most prominent tourist attractions of Jammu and Kashmir. The idea of developing a large tulip garden in Srinagar is credited to former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Jenab Ghulam Nabi Azad. The garden was established with the objective of giving a further impetus to tourism and floriculture in the Valley. It was formerly known as Siraj Bagh and was opened to the public in 2007. In Kashmiri, the tulip flower is popularly associated with the name Gul-e-Lala. Over the years, the Tulip Garden has become synonymous with the colourful arrival of spring in Kashmir and has ac...

  It is very unfortunate that on Monday and Tuesday that is 3rd and 4th of August 2026, there were heavy rainfall and cloudbursts in Pahalgam, Ganderbal, Shopian, Bandipora, Kupwara, and before that in Rajouri and Poonch of Jammu division. Also on 5th of July cloudburst rocked Kulgam village and it is a serious issue. It, resulted in loss of lives, and damage to roads, bridges, houses and infrastructure. Several people got killed in various parts of Kashmir. It has been reported that in 2026 till date in 36 cloudbursts ,31 people lost their lives and it is a cause of serious and grave concern. On a cursory look we say that a man has no control over natural fury, correct, but it is also true that cloudbursts and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir are also of our own creation and are partly man-made. Men and women have become very greedy and they have time and again tinkered with the natures scheme of things and have degraded, downgraded environment by cutting trees, narrowing the riv...

                                The story of Somnath Temple is not merely the story of a temple standing on the western coast of India overlooking the Arabian Sea. It is the story of the resilience of a civilization, the undying spirit of a people, and the eternal continuity of cultural memory that no invasion, destruction, or political upheaval could erase. Somnath stands today not only as a sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, but as a profound symbol of India’s national consciousness and cultural awakening. Through centuries of turbulence, the temple emerged repeatedly from ruins, carrying within its stones the message that the soul of India can never be conquered. The name Somnath itself means “Lord of the Moon.” According to ancient tradition, the Moon God Soma worshipped Lord Shiva here to free himself from a curse, and thus the temple acquired immense sanctity in Hindu religious tradition. It became...

  Bhagwan Gopinath Ji's Mahotsav is one of the most revered spiritual celebrations for devotees of the great saint and mystic of Kashmir. Observed every year with profound devotion and spiritual fervour, the Mahotsav commemorates the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Gopinath Ji, whose life and teachings continue to inspire thousands of seekers across India and beyond. More than a religious gathering, the Mahotsav represents a celebration of timeless spiritual wisdom, self-realisation, compassion, and the eternal quest for truth. It provides devotees with an opportunity to reconnect with the ideals of inner purity, selfless service, and unwavering faith that Bhagwan Gopinath Ji embodied throughout his extraordinary life. Born on 3 July 1898 in Srinagar, Bhagwan Gopinath Ji emerged as one of the greatest saints produced by the spiritual heritage of Kashmir. He belonged to the rich tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, yet his teachings transcended sectarian boundaries and appealed to people fro...

                             Book Review          Name of the Book - Hues of Kashmir                (Perspectives on Cultural History)             Perspectives on Cultural History                     By Prof Rattan Lal Hangloo                              Pages - 418                             Price - Rs. 1750 Kashmir Hues is a remarkable scholarly work by eminent historian Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo that presents Kashmir not merely as a geographical entity but as a vibrant civilizational space shaped by spirituality, philosophy, history, literature, and above all cultural pluralism. Through four well-crafted essays, the aut...

                                      (Image courtesy: Internet)                                                         Culture, craft,  roots heritage and religion does not die as these re-merge after a long or short gap.The same is true of the conventional and traditional matting which had been lost in oblivion but has re-emerged on the horizon of Kashmir and it is a matter of satisfaction that old things re-surface and Vagu is one among them. The revival of Kashmir’s Vagu, the traditional handwoven reed mat, is much more than the return of a household item.It represents the revival of an indigenous craft ,a sustainable lifestyle  and a cultural tradition  that had almost disappeared  under the pressure of modern synthetic products o...

The thing to do in Achabal is to retreat to the Mughal Garden, dip your feet in the cool spring around whose waters the garden is laid out, and roll some Persian words on your tongue. Nashiman: the platforms to sit on in the water’s company. Jadwal or juyee: the canals that carry water from the main spring. Persian is called for because the art of gardening among many other customs and cultures was brought to Kashmir by the Shah Miri Sultanate, many members of which were immigrants from Persia. The pattern of the garden that you see around you  terraces and fountains and trees set around a central water channel - is that of the Persian pleasure gardens. Later, Mughal royalty refined this art and took it to greater heights. Mughals themselves were of Turko-Mongol origins but Humayun had spent the years of his exile from India in Persia, and he and his successors carried the imprint of that culture throughout their rule.  Achabal itself is a small town, just a short drive from t...