Kashmir's traditional Ramadan drummers wake neighbours up for pre-dawn meals


  • World
  • Thursday, 20 Apr 2023

Arif Ahmad Jinded, 18, a Kashmiri Ramadan drummer locally known as "Sahar Khan", is accompanied by his father Abdul Kareem Jinded and brother Imran Jinded as he beats his drum to wake Muslims up for their meal before daybreak, along a road during the holy fasting month of Ramadan in downtowm Srinagar April 16, 2023. REUTERS/Sanna Irshad Mattoo

SRINAGAR (Reuters) - The valley is covered in darkness as Abdul Kareem Jinded, 71, prepares his drum to break the silence of his neighbourhood in Srinagar, the largest city in Indian Kashmir.

A wood-cutter by day, he wakes up at midnight during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to walk 3-4 miles (5-6 km) through the bylanes of Srinagar's downtown or old quarter, knocking on doors shouting: "Wake up and eat your morning meal before it is late".

Save 30% for ads-free and full access now!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Three people killed in shooting in Sweden, police say
Jalisco ranch was longstanding operation site for organized crime, Mexico AG says
Kenyan government backs budget cuts, endorses Finance Bill 2025
Largest U.S. port expects slump in shipments next week amid tariff impact
Roundup: China's agricultural equipment sows seeds of prosperity in Pakistan: minister
Feature: Ethiopian students embrace Chinese language amid growing Sino-Ethiopian ties
Deutsche Bank reports robust profit growth in Q1
Roundup: Cultural exchange takes center stage at Chinese language competition in Namibia
Easter road deaths drop by over 4 pct as crashes decline across South Africa
2 killed in flooding in northern Namibia

Others Also Read