Inside The Weddings Of Curfewed Kashmir newsclick.in

With the reports of torture and muzzling in the state, locals feel conflicted in celebrating the supposedly happy occasions like weddings.“I am getting married today; I have written ‘give us Article 370 back’ on my hands with henna. Because on this day, my wish is that Article 370 should be restored. It is our identity, which is being taken away from us,” said Taha from Srinagar’s Soura, as her family lines up whatever arrangements they could make in their half-done verandah for her wedding.

The region has remained completely cut off for over a period of 50 days since the Indian government unilaterally abrogated Article 370 on August 5, which conferred special status to the state Jammu and Kashmir. The Soura region has witnessed mass protests and experiences severe tension between the locals and the armed forces. On the supposedly ‘happy’ occasions such as weddings, the locals now feel conflicted with the shadow of the ongoing crisis.