Kamal Ghorui
SRINAGAR: A video showing bare-chested youths dancing to the peppy Haryanvi song ‘Jaata Ka Chhora’, waving hookahs amid the snow-covered, picturesque landscape of Sonmarg, has triggered widespread outrage across the Valley. The visuals, which quickly went viral on social media, have drawn sharp criticism from political leaders and civil society, who termed the act provocative, insensitive and disrespectful to local sentiments and cultural norms. The video is from Sonmarg and was recorded sometime last week. Lieutenant General (retd) Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon took to social media platform X and wrote: “Indian soldiers and citizens made the supreme sacrifice to bring peace in Kashmir. Kashmir is definitely more beautiful without these uncouth and shabby idiots with poor upbringing. Jai Hind.” Politician Imran Reza Ansari, in a post on X, said, “What surfaced from Sonmarg is deeply unfortunate and shameful. Kashmir has always welcomed tourists with open arms, warmth and dignity. But hooliganism in the name of ‘fun’—shirtless dancing on roads, blocking traffic, harassing passersby and disturbing families—cannot and will not be tolerated.” Another user on X wrote, “Zero civic sense. Haryana men dance half-naked, wave hookahs and blast high-volume music in Kashmir, turning a peaceful location into a circus. “A group of men from Haryana are dancing half-dressed, swinging hookahs, jumping around wildly and blasting songs like ‘Jaata Ka Chhora’, turning a calm and beautiful tourist spot into a noisy circus. “They forget that women, families, elders and sensible people also come to such places for peace and relaxation—not for noise, fear and chaos. “This is neither culture nor pride—this is simple public misbehaviour. Tourist destinations are not personal playgrounds; they are sensitive areas and treasures of natural beauty.”
