In frames | Hook, line, and ice

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Kashmir is known for its waterbodies specified arsenic the Dal lake, Wular lake, Anchar lake, and the Jhelum and Sindh rivers that supply a earthy situation for a assortment of fish, including trout, carp, and immoderate indigenous species.

As settlements grew astir these h2o bodies, sportfishing became some a means of livelihood arsenic good arsenic a accepted concern successful this portion of the world.

Catching food successful Kashmir is by some accepted and modern methods, utilizing nets, traps, and tiny boats successful lakes and slow-moving waters. Angling is fashionable successful streams and rivers, peculiarly for trout.

For locals, sportfishing remains a well-loved hobby arsenic galore often walk diligent hours astir the waterbodies. Commercial sportfishing practices travel seasonal patterns to support food during breeding periods.

Freshly caught food are brought aboriginal to section markets, wherever they are sold straight to consumers oregon vendors. In cities specified arsenic Srinagar, the markets are engaged and vibrant, with buyers seeking fresh, locally sourced fish. Some of the drawback is besides supplied to hotels and restaurants, contributing to the section nutrient system and tourism sector.

Women instrumentality up the selling of food successful the markets and men are engaged successful catching the food successful the aboriginal hours of the greeting and, astatine times, successful the precocious evening.

Smoking and drying food are accepted preservation techniques, particularly important successful the airy of Kashmir’s agelong winters. For smoking, food are cleaned, lightly salted, and exposed to controlled fume from wood oregon hay fires, which adds flavour and extends shelf-life. Drying involves salting the food and hanging them successful airy spaces oregon sun-drying them.

Dried fish, locally known arsenic hogaad, tin beryllium stored for months. Smoked food is known arsenic fahre and, erstwhile cooked with collard greens, is considered a delicacy successful Kashmir.

Fresh food are fried, cooked successful airy gravies, oregon combined with vegetables, often utilizing mustard lipid and spices. Smoked and dried food get pridefulness of spot successful wintertime meals, providing nutrition, warmth, and a heavy transportation to Kashmiri culinary heritage.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Silent hunter: Kashmiri fishermen, holding harpoons and huddled nether blankets, hold connected their boats to drawback food utilizing the centuries-old tchay-e-gard shikar (shadow fishing) method connected the frigid Anchar water successful Srinagar.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Patient pursuit: Kashmiri fishermen hold with their sportfishing rods successful the acold waters of the Jhelum stream hoping for a greeting drawback successful Srinagar.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Under the airy sun: A fisherman stands astatine the borderline of his vessel arsenic helium casts a nett to drawback food connected the Dal lake.

Photo: Imran Nissar

For the win: A fisherman throws his sportfishing nett into the acold waters of the Dal water successful the anticipation of a bully haul.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Daily ritual: A fisherman dipping his drawback successful the waters of the Dal water connected a acold wintertime morning.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Angling implicit Anchar: A Kashmiri fisherman balances himself expertly portion wielding a harpoon connected the Anchar lake.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Swooping birds: Fishermen spell astir their business, portion birds of prey hover astir them hoping to currency successful connected the catch.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Camouflaged catch: Using a accepted sportfishing method, a fisherman stays hidden arsenic helium waits for the close infinitesimal to trap fish.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Aroma of winter: Fresh drawback hung connected ropes to sun-dry successful Bandipora, Kashmir. Drying is simply a accepted preservation technique, particularly important successful the airy of Kashmir’s agelong winters.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Cache for the cold: Kashmiri women laic food implicit writer arsenic portion of a cooking process. Smoked fish, locally called fahre, is 1 of the accepted delicacies successful the portion and a wintertime favourite.

Published - February 15, 2026 10:33 americium IST

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