Kashmir's Vanishing Neighbourhoods

Once a source of strength and comfort, neighbourhood bonds in Kashmir are breaking down as modern life pushes people apart.

- Umair Ul Umar

Growing up in Kashmir, the neighbourhood was a lively network of relationships that made life richer, safer, and warmer.

The streets I knew were filled with faces that felt like family.

Every neighbour had a role: sharing joy, shouldering burdens, and turning even the simplest days into moments of connection.

Our homes were modest, but hospitality was boundless. I remember the smell of Nun Chai and freshly baked Kulchas greeting unexpected guests, and the hum of conversations that went late into the night.

When illness struck, neighbours came with prayers, hot meals, and hours of company. Weddings were community affairs: women gathered to cook rice, men helped prepare the intricate wazwan, and everyone pitched in - setting up tents, carrying chairs, and exchanging stories.

It was a collective celebration where no one counted the cost or asked for favors in return.

One vivid memory stands out from my childhood. Guests arriving a day before a wedding were not left to fend for themselves but welcomed into neighbours' homes as family. It felt as if the entire neighbourhood was the host.

Sadly, that spirit of togetherness has faded in recent years.