Obscene fashion show in Kashmir sparks Ramadan outrage
Event slammed as an assault on Islamic and Sufi heritage amid cultural invasion fears
SRINAGAR, Kashmir (MNTV) — A controversial fashion show held in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramadan has ignited widespread anger across Kashmir.
The event, featuring semi-nude models on snow-covered slopes, has been condemned as a cultural invasion aimed at erasing the region’s Islamic and Sufi identity.
Religious and political leaders have decried the show as part of India’s broader settler-colonial agenda to undermine Kashmir’s cultural fabric.
“Outrageous! During Ramadan, an obscene fashion show shocks and angers people across Kashmir,” said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the region’s chief cleric, on social media platform X.
“This obscenity, under the guise of promoting tourism, will not be tolerated in Kashmir, which is rooted in its Sufi traditions.”
Mirwaiz called for accountability, demanding immediate action against the organizers.
National Conference leader and parliamentarian Aga Ruhullah echoed these concerns, labeling the event a “cultural invasion disguised as tourism.”
“The images from Gulmarg show blatant disregard for Kashmiri sentiments,” Ruhullah wrote on X.
He called for the tourism department and organizers Shivan & Narresh to face accountability.
Civil society members also criticized the event. Social activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat called it a deliberate attempt to destroy Kashmir’s ethical and religious values.
“Who authorized this nude fashion show during Ramadan? Why is our cultural identity under constant assault?” he questioned.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed dismay over the event and demanded an official report. “This reflects complete disregard for local sensitivities, especially during Ramadan,” Abdullah said on X, pledging further action.
Broader concerns over identity erasure
Observers see this event as part of a larger project to dilute Kashmir’s Muslim-majority identity since India revoked the region’s special status in 2019.
Critics argue that policies such as demographic changes, land takeovers, and cultural impositions are eroding Kashmir’s unique Islamic heritage in favor of state-driven narratives.
The Gulmarg fashion show has become a flashpoint for broader discontent, symbolizing the ongoing struggle over Kashmir’s cultural and religious identity.
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