News and Events
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A CELEBRATION OF KASHMIR!!! Miami, Florida, USA, November 17, 2012 |
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Today, after being uprooted from their motherland, they have settled all over India and abroad. Some of them have travelled across the ocean and found a place for themselves in the United States of America. Although their heart still yearns to go back to their “Maej Kasheer”, they have learnt to pick up the threads of their lives away from their Janambhoomi and re-shape their destiny in their Karambhoomi. Being a group of resilient Kashmiri Hindus, they have managed not only to sustain their culture and heritage in a foreign land, but have also managed to create awareness in the American society about Kashmir, in addition to promoting the Indian culture and values. At this point I would like to commemorate the Kashmiri Hindu Community of South Florida who have gone a step ahead in their efforts to endorse the Kashmiri Culture in the American Society and educate the people around us about a land of saints and sages, a place so beautiful that it was called “the heaven on earth” by a famous poet named Firdaus. A prestigious and glorious community forgotten even by their fellow countrymen has been honored and has finally found its place in the International Community. It became possible as the vision of one person came to life in the form of an event called “A Celebration of Kashmir” that was held on 17th of November, 2012 in Miami, Florida. This visionary is none other than the author of Koshur Saal- Mrs. Chandramukhi Ganju, who organized this exhibition with the help of the Kashmir Hindu Foundation and the North Miami Library. An event that portrayed the exquisite art, architecture, history, literature, cuisine and so much more by displaying an array of artifacts, this exhibition was indeed an enriching experience for all. On this occasion the North Miami City Mayor, Andre Pierre, graced the event and declared 17th November as the “Kashmiri Hindu Heritage Day”, a day that will be celebrated by all Kashmiri Hindus in North Miami for generations to come! The Mayor handed the proclamation to Shri Gopinath Raina, who is one of the oldest members of the community and also Senior Editor of Shehjar News magazine. The whole atmosphere was filled with the sounds of “Shankh” and the community members applauded as they witnessed this ceremony teary eyed and mesmerized. Thereafter, the Mayor addressed the gathering and congratulated everyone for a wonderful event and thanked the community for their contribution to North Miami in the field of art and culture. At this time, Chandramukhiji and Sarlaji were invited to share their life experiences with the biradari members and guests present. Next there was a short documentary screening which was an audio-visual treat in many ways, especially for the kids who were born in the USA and had never had a chance to visit Kashmir. This seemed like looking through a window into the life of a Kashmiri Hindu going about his daily life, something they might not be able to experience otherwise. After the short video film, everyone wanted to visit the exhibits. The display of all the pieces of art, crafts, and literature intertwined with scenes from Kashmiri lifestyle transformed the whole place in to the lanes of Kashmir, where people were sitting and wearing traditional costumes called “Pherans” and carrying “Kangri” and chatting with their neighbors. Kids were learning from saints like Lal Daed and even handicrafts and handloom items like sarees, shawls, carpets, and bedspreads with “crewel” and “tillawork” was on display artistically all around the room. An area which caught everyone’s attention was the table where an aromatic and authentic Kashmiri cuisine was displayed. All the guests had a chance to savor the taste of a real Kashmiri Cuisine, such as”taher”, “leither tchaman”, “mutsch” and “doon chatin”. After a mouthwatering meal, the guests were also offered hot “kahwa” and “roth” which everyone enjoyed. Apart from art and crafts and cuisine, there were exhibits featuring the temples and architecture of Kashmir, literature, sages and saints, an exhibit about a Kashmiri Hindu Marriage displayed wedding rituals and also showed a bride in all her finery. Samples of Athoor, Janeo and Jantri were also available for those interested. This event indeed was a celebration of Kashmir, its rich culture and glorious heritage, or in other words an amazing experience which we all will cherish for years to come. This exhibition on one hand has provided a wonderful opportunity for the world to understand the Kashmiri Hindu Culture, on the other hand has given the Kashmiri Hindus the recognition and honor they deserve on the International Scene. |