Srinagar: Kashmiri theatre, traditional cuisine and Urdu literature took centre stage on the fourth day of the third Chinar Book Festival at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), drawing large participation from readers, students and families.
The day began with a discussion on “From Soil to Soul: Culinary Traditions and Sustainability,” where speakers highlighted the links between food, culture and sustainable living. Chef Yaseen Reshi spoke about Kashmiri cuisine’s tradition of zero-waste cooking and the use of local ingredients, while Rajni Wanchoo urged younger generations to reconnect with indigenous vegetables and seasonal produce. Khair Ull Nissa Sheikh shared experiences of traditional food preservation practices in Kashmir and compared them with sustainable methods in other countries.
A major attraction of the day was the session “Theatre in Kashmir: Reviving a Living Tradition,” which brought together playwrights, actors, directors and scholars to discuss the evolution and future of Kashmiri theatre.
Dr Farooq Fayaz traced the origins of theatre in Kashmir to its ancient Sanskrit traditions, while Nisar Naseem described the period between 1970 and 1989 as the golden era of modern Kashmiri theatre. Actor Kusum Tikoo encouraged young people to embrace innovative formats such as street theatre, rooftop performances and social media to keep the art form relevant. Rohit Bhatt advocated the formation of theatre groups in schools and colleges to nurture future playwrights and performers.
The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) organised literary sessions on “Urdu in the Digital Age” and the release of a book on the poetry of Mir Taqi Mir. Speakers stressed the need to preserve Urdu through digital platforms while highlighting the literary richness of Mir’s ghazals.
The Children’s Corner attracted around 4,000 participants with storytelling sessions, a quiz on the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya digital library, a financial literacy workshop by SEBI and an Arabic calligraphy workshop.
Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department, Ashwani Kumar, visited the festival and interacted with children participating in the activities.
The cultural programme featured theatre performances by Gulistan Bhagat Theatre, Azad Dramatic Club, Mehak Dramatic Club and Yusmarg Folk Theatre, along with a Dastangoi storytelling session. Musical performances by Aijaz Sahir, Zubaida Ali, and the duo Asif and Tanzeeb concluded the day’s events.
The festival will continue till July 26. Organisers said the fifth day will feature an interaction with actor Rakesh Bedi, presentations by students of the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), and a session titled “Daughters of the Valley: Voices, Vision & Legacy.”
