The decision by Kashmir’s traditional chefs, popularly known as Wazas, to stop serving food at weddings and other social functions beyond 10 pm deserves public understanding and cooperation. It highlights a long-standing concern about the working conditions of people who play an essential role in preserving Kashmir’s rich culinary heritage. Wazwan is an inseparable part of the Valley’s social and cultural identity. Weddings, engagements and other important occasions are incomplete without this traditional multi-course feast. Behind every Wazwan is a team of skilled Wazas and their assistants who work for hours to prepare and serve the elaborate spread. Their contribution is often taken for granted, while the delays and inconveniences they face receive little attention. The concerns raised by the Waza Association are legitimate. Wedding ceremonies and dinner schedules in Kashmir have increasingly become unpredictable. Functions announced for the evening often stretch well into the night. Nikah ceremonies scheduled for 10 pm may get delayed until the early hours of the morning. Such practices place an unreasonable burden on chefs and their assistants, who are expected to remain available regardless of how long the proceedings continue. No profession should be expected to function without reasonable working hours. Wazas, like other workers, have families, personal responsibilities and a right to rest. Their skills and services should not be treated as an unlimited resource that hosts can demand at any hour. The fact that they work in a traditional profession does not make their time or well-being any less important. The association’s unanimous decision to stop serving food after 10 pm is therefore understandable. It seeks to establish a reasonable boundary and ensure that responsibility for timely arrangements is shared by everyone involved. The provision allowing assistants and other staff to leave when functions extend beyond the deadline is equally important. Workers should not be compelled to sacrifice their health and personal lives because organisers fail to follow the announced schedule. However, the success of this decision will depend largely on public cooperation. Families organising weddings and other functions must understand that a timely dinner is not simply the responsibility of the catering team. Hosts, event managers, families and guests all have a role in ensuring that ceremonies begin and conclude as scheduled. If a Nikah is planned for a particular hour, there should be no unnecessary delay. Dinner arrangements must also be coordinated accordingly. Equally, the association’s demand for basic facilities, including proper bedding and other amenities for workers, deserves attention. Those engaged for long hours at social gatherings should be provided with dignified working conditions. Respect for tradition must also include respect for the people who keep that tradition alive. There may be occasions when unforeseen circumstances cause delays. Such situations can be addressed through prior coordination and mutual understanding. But exceptions should not become a justification for routinely extending working hours. Ultimately, the Wazas are not seeking special treatment. They are asking for something basic, Moreover, adherence to the timings will also not inconvenience the guests.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
