Pheran ban lifted

Senior journalist and TV anchor Nidhi Razdan weighs in on the pheran ban controversy with this tweet: @Nidhi I've come late to this party, but yes, I wear pherans to work and I love it ! #PheranIsMyIdentity.


A ban order barring officials from wearing the pheran, a long woollen winter dress, to the office of Zonal Education Officer in north Kashmir’s Langate, which triggered a massive online campaign against it, was withdrawn today.


Chief Education Officer, Kupwara, Mohammad Shafi War, said the order issued by the Langate zonal officer, Agha Abdul Rasheed, “has been withdrawn.”


“Pheran is part of our culture. The earlier order was passed after some employees would come to work in their night dresses,” said War. The earlier move evoked sharp responses from politicians and civil society in Kashmir, which is experiencing a cold wave with sub-zero temperatures. The pheran is preferred attire to battle the cold.


Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday uploaded pictures wearing a pheran to protest against the ban. “ My father and I have worn pherans to official functions and will continue to do so,” Omar said.