Shikara is an iconic wooden boat that is a popular tourist attraction and livelihood support for many people in Kashmir. Until an year ago, the national and international tourists used to brim around Dal lake, for a Shikara ride. However, the Shikara owners are facing a tough time due to political turmoil followed by the coronavirus pandemic. Shikara boats, crafted out of Deodar woods, provide a great benefit to the tourism sector of Kashmir. The tourists love to ride in these cushioned boats, enjoy the view of mountains and explore the floating market of Dal lake, along with the swift movement of Shikara. Indeed, the charm and pleasure of the moment arrests the tourists and doesn’t allow them to leave without clicking some memorable pictures. Moreover, according to a report of Indian TV, more than 32,000 people are directly dependent on the tourism sector with nearly 4500 registered shikaras and lakhs of people are indirectly dependent. Unfortunately, the famous Kashmiri Gondola is facing a crisis recently.
The unstable government was already a reason for its set back, but the recent pandemic added to it. Owing to sudden and continuous lockdown since March 2020, the livelihood of dependent people has come to a standstill. Bashir Ahmad, a Shikara owner has been rowing his boat for the last 25 years. He faced lots of ups and downs but the Covid pandemic was worse in his life, as reported by the Hindustan newspaper. Like him many more are worried now for their sustenance and fighting for their survival. The dismayed Shikara owners are looking up to the government for their huge loss. They need help and support from the government otherwise Kashmir will soon lose its famous- Shikara spell!
(The author is a Ph. D Scholar at the Faculty of Forestry S K University Of Agriculture Sciences & Technology-SKUASAST-K. Views are her own)
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