There is no fear of firing in Kashmir: Now marriages are happening from their home, those who live close to LOC are not able to do it from their home earlier

In the last 2019, when the daughter of Ghulam Mohammad Butt, who lives in Uri near the LoC, got married, he did not organize the event at home. He performed all the rituals at his relative’s house who lived five km away. Because they were afraid that they did not know when the shelling would start from across the border. Butt says that there was intermittent shelling at that time, we did not want any untoward incident on the happy occasion. So it felt right to get married at the relative’s house.

However, his son got married last month and the event was held at his house. Because ceasefire is in force between India and Pakistan since February last year. So even though he was close to the LoC, he did not change the venue.

Now peace in many areas along the LoC
Mohammad Butt said that he has seen many times before that the happiness of many marriages turned into mourning, shelling from across the border had taken away many lives. But these days life is peaceful in many areas along the LoC. Many events including marriage are now being held in their homes.

Ghulam Mohammad Butt said that many people have lost their lives due to shelling from across the border.

At least 260 marriages took place in border villages
At least 260 weddings have taken place this year in border villages like Uri, Machil, Keran, Bangus, Gurez, Tangdhar following the ceasefire along the Line of Control by the Indo-Pak armies, which is crucial in reviving the memories and traditions associated with weddings. have been proved. Instead of organizing programs at safe places outside the villages, people are able to celebrate at home among their close ones.

There was a time when there was fierce firing near the LOC.
Isra Jan, a resident of Keran, who got married recently, says- “Earlier we used to be imprisoned in homes for many days due to firing. Now without any fear, they participate in programs like marriage on a large scale.” Mushtaq Ahmed, a resident of Karnah, says that recently there have been five marriages in his area and a large number of people attended these weddings on the LoC, This had not been seen for a long time.

Isra Jaan said that earlier we used to be imprisoned in homes for many days due to firing.

Had to stay inside bunkers to avoid firing
Irshad Ahmed, a resident of Tangdhar in Kupwara district, said that there was a period when one had to spend days inside underground bunkers to avoid continuous firing from across the LoC. Ahmed’s brother, who got married recently, says, “Around 250 guests attended the event. Everything else was festive, whereas in the past, we had only seen sorrow and pain. Because dozens of people were killed and many were injured in the shelling.

We hope and pray that the ceasefire is permanent as the residents living close to the border are suffering the most. Three districts of North Kashmir ‘Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara’ share the LoC with PoK and thousands of people living near these districts.