The traditional Kashmiri pheran (the loose gown worn during winters) is at the heart of a controversy in Kashmir valley after the education department in Langate banned the dress in its offices.
Leading the campaign against the pheran ban is National Conference vice-president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, who has started a campaign on Twitter to revoke the ban. Drawing flak, the education department withdrew the order in a bid to calm tempers.
The controversy started when the zonal education officer of Langate issued a circular banning pheran, traditional trousers and sleeper/plastic shoes in his office.
"All officials visiting the office are advised to visit in proper dress code during any official visit. It is recommended that no official will visit this office wearing pheran, traditional trousers and sleeper/plastic shoes," read the circular.
The issue snowballed into a major controversy with people taking to social media calling it an assault on the Kashmiri culture. "My father and I have worn pherans to official functions many times over the years and will continue to do so, silly government orders notwithstanding," Omar tweeted, with hashtags #dontbanourpheran and #revokepheranban.
People posted pictures wearing the pheran on Twitter to register their protest and oppose the ban. Omar too posted his and his father's pictures, wearing the pheran during functions.
"I fail to understand why pherans should be banned! This is a regressive order that makes no sense at all. Pherans are a very practical way of keeping warm during the cold winter, aside from being part of our identity. This order should be withdrawn," Omar said.
Under fire, the education department on Tuesday withdrew the order in a bid to put an end to the raging controversy. "Teachers were coming to the office wearing sleepers and trousers. He the (zonal education officer) had reprimanded them not to do so. Then he issued an order in which he also included the pheran. Since pheran is our cultural dress, we have withdrawn the order," Mohommad Shafi War, chief education officer, Kupwara, told DNA.
Officials said the directions were issued with an aim to maintain office decorum and discipline. "Since the pheran ban became an issue, we withdrew the order completely," said War.
Pheran is a traditional dress of Kashmir and both men and women take pride in donning it. Older Kashmiri women wear it throughout the year while men prefer to wear it during winters to keep warm.
People also use a 'kangri' (traditional fire pot) under the pheran to keep themselves warm. In 2014, the Army had to withdraw its advisory urging journalists not to wear pheran while visiting its Corps Headquarters.
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