Kashmir's Zool festival

Kashmir’s centuries-old Zool Festival lights up the Aishmuqam shrine with torches and timeless legends.

Transcript

00:00This is Kashmir's centuries-old Zool festival being celebrated by locals by lighting

00:10within torches mashals. Zool is celebrated annually at the Aishmukham Dargah shrine

00:15of Sufi Saint Baba Zaiduddinwali in South Kashmir's Anantanag, marking the beginning

00:20of agricultural activities of the farmers in the district. The tradition is rooted in folklore.

00:24Baba Zaiduddinwali, a 15th century Sufi saint and disciple of Nand Rishi, was believed

00:30to have defeated a demon that terrorized the villagers.

00:39However, another local legend also attributes the victory to a young orphan named Bhumi Saad.

00:54The demon was seen as a symbol of inner struggles like greed, which was defeated, representing

01:01the victory of good over evil.

01:03People from all religions are believed to come and pay homage to the saint. After praying

01:17through the night, on the 12th of the Shawal, thousands of devotees gathered at the Aishmukham

01:22shrine and lit torches and oil lamps, seeking blessings of the saint.