SRINAGAR, JULY 01: As the sacred month of Muharram has begun, a small group of school and college students gathered in the heart of the old city for a heritage walk. Led by art and heritage consultant Iliyas Rizvi, the first ‘Dar’ke Azadari 2025’ photo heritage walk commenced from Imam Bargah Zadibal, exploring downtown’s lesser-known spaces of mourning.
“Zadibal holds deep layers of memory. The old buildings of Zadibal carry a pulse of the community’s emotional and spiritual past,” said Rizvi, who has been conducting such walks for over a decade under his initiative EdRAAK.
The walk covered several key stops: the Imam Bargah Zadibal, the shrines of Mir Shamuddin Araki and Syed Hassan, different old houses considered architectural masterpieces of the area, and a session on Muharram-themed arts and crafts. Participants engaged with local experts, observed rituals, and explored the visual and emotional language of Azadari traditions in the Kashmir Valley.
“In Kashmir, Muharram is not only a religious period but a creative and cultural moment as well. We are focusing on photography, oral stories, poetry, and calligraphy to help young people connect with traditions they may not encounter in the classroom,” Rizvi told The Kashmir Monitor.
The heritage walks, limited to 15 participants per session, are designed to be quiet and reflective. Many of the students, often absorbed in digital devices and staying indoors due to the summer heat, found the experience grounding and personal.
“I have never seen this side of the city,” said Zehra, a young participant. “These places felt alive, and hearing the stories directly from the locals made it feel personal.”
Rizvi said the Zadibal Craft Bazaar too had been set up this year. “It is a rare opportunity to see crafts from across the Shia world — from Iran and Iraq to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. For students, it is like entering a living museum.”
Interest in the walks has grown over the years. Rizvi explained that the limited group size helps preserve the solemnity of the sites and ensures meaningful engagement.
“With Srinagar now recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts, it becomes even more vital for Gen Z to understand what that truly signifies,” he said. “We need to connect the dots between our heritage and our global presence. More walks are scheduled in the coming days,” he added.