Opinion | Gulmarg Fashion Show Controversy: Condemn the Act, Not the Innocent

The event was a private affair, with no role played by the government, a fact even the Chief Minister himself clarified while expressing his own disapproval. Instead of turning it into a political spectacle, the real question should be—how do we ensure that such incidents do not happen again?

We are the ones who throw garbage into any river or stream, and we are the ones who blame the government for not cleaning it. I would say every Indian, but to be precise, we as Kashmiris are accustomed to putting the blame for everything on the government. We blame the government for not installing traffic lights, yet we are the ones who break the signal where it is installed. A very recent incident in Gulmarg—a fashion show—was completely organized privately. True, considering the cultural essence of Kashmir and, more importantly, the sanctity of the holy month of Ramadhan, it shouldn’t have happened. But as I said, Kashmiris have a habit of blaming the government for everything, and so they did here as well. As a conscious and conscientious citizen, I reached out to various people, asking for their views on the incident. Here’s what they had to say

Firdous Beigh, a content creator from Anantnag, shared a practical perspective on the issue. “The Chief Minister of the UT condemned it on his X handle, which clearly means the government had no role in facilitating the event. If people have a problem with it, they should question the organizers directly instead of turning it into a political issue. There are far bigger challenges we face as a society, yet we always get stuck in the same cycle of outrage. I unequivocally condemn the event, but how can one blame the government when they weren’t even aware of it?”
While speaking to Babar Magray from Kupwara, he shared his thoughts candidly. “Kashmir has always been a political lava—whatever happens here inevitably turns into a political issue. A fashion show at a ski resort in Gulmarg shouldn’t have taken place, especially in the holy month of Ramadhan. But now that it did, we should focus on condemning it rather than pointing fingers, especially when it was a privately organized event. The show, hosted by designer duo Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja, reportedly showcased a ski-wear collection. Neither the elected government nor the LG had any role in it. Let’s condemn it for what it is without unnecessarily dragging politics into it.”
Ayaan Lone, Entrepreneur from Baramulla
“Outrage is justified when something goes against the cultural and religious fabric of a place, but misdirecting that outrage is where we go wrong. The fashion show in Gulmarg was indeed insensitive, especially in the holy month of Ramzan, and should not have taken place. But instead of blaming the government, people should question the private organizers and the venue that allowed it. The Chief Minister himself condemned the event and assured action. When the government had no role in its organization, why make it a political issue?”

Aabid Fayaz , a student activist from Srinagar
“As Kashmiris, we have an unfortunate habit of blaming the government for everything, even when it’s not responsible. The Gulmarg fashion show was a private event, organized by private individuals, at a private venue. It was insensitive, yes, and I condemn it, but dragging the government into this controversy is just another example of misplaced outrage. The Chief Minister himself expressed shock and assured an inquiry, which shows that even the administration was unaware of it. Instead of politicizing it, we should hold the actual organizers accountable.”

Wani Shafiya, a writer from Budgam
“Whether it is littering our streets or organizing inappropriate events, we are quick to blame the government while ignoring the actual culprits. The fashion show in Gulmarg should not have happened, especially during Ramzan, but those responsible are the private organizers, not the government. If anything, the government has taken a stand against it, with the CM calling it unacceptable. Instead of unnecessary political drama, let’s focus on ensuring such incidents do not repeat.”

Tahir Lone, a social worker from Handwara
“I understand why people are angry, and I share that sentiment. A fashion show in a place like Kashmir, during Ramzan, goes against our cultural and religious values. However, it’s important to direct our anger at the right place. This was a privately held event, and the government had no role in facilitating it. The CM himself sought an inquiry and made it clear that the administration had no prior knowledge. Let’s hold the organizers responsible instead of making this a political blame game.”
At the heart of this controversy lies a simple truth—misplaced outrage weakens genuine causes. The fashion show in Gulmarg was undoubtedly an insensitive act, one that disregarded the cultural and religious sentiments of Kashmiris, especially in the holy month of Ramzan. It deserves condemnation, but let’s not distort the facts. The event was a private affair, with no role played by the government, a fact even the Chief Minister himself clarified while expressing his own disapproval. Instead of turning it into a political spectacle, the real question should be—how do we ensure that such incidents do not happen again? Accountability should be sought from the organizers and those who allowed it, rather than using it as an excuse to further political narratives. If we truly care about our values, let’s focus on preventing their erosion, not just on finding someone convenient to blame.

The writer is a student activist and can be reached at soulofkashmir1@gmail.com