{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-572d6a42.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-f4d0de30.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Kashmir\u0026#39;s vast wedding banquets concern environmental groups' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bfe4d8eafeecae14692b' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bfe4d8eafeecae14692b' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nKashmir\u0026#39;s vast wedding banquets concern environmental groups\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eAP TelevisionSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India - June 4-5, 20111. Various of female wedding guests singing2. Mid of female guests watching3. Wide of guests at the wedding4. Mid of groom (centre) surrounded by guests5. Wide pan right of...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India - June 4-5, 2011\u003cbr/\u003e1. Various of female wedding guests singing\u003cbr/\u003e2. Mid of female guests watching\u003cbr/\u003e3. Wide of guests at the wedding\u003cbr/\u003e4. Mid of groom (centre) surrounded by guests\u003cbr/\u003e5. Wide pan right of people seated on floor for the Kashmiri wedding feast \"Wazwan\"\u003cbr/\u003e6. Various of guests eating\u003cbr/\u003e7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Habib Mir, hotelier and relative of the groom\u003cbr/\u003e\"It is a unique wedding ceremony celebrated here in Kashmir from ages and it continues from the day of mehendi (Henna ceremony) up to the reception of Baraat (wedding procession) and continues for another day which is called Walima. So, with all these formalities and traditions we cannot remain without having Wazwan. Wazwan is the special thing.\"\u003cbr/\u003e8. Various of men preparing, chopping, pounding and seasoning the meat\u003cbr/\u003e9. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Haji Abdul Samad, head chef \u003cbr/\u003e\"The tradition of Wazwan came from Iran and slowly the practice caught on here too. A large number of dishes are prepared in this, not only the ones that you see here, but many more. Anything between 20 to 30 dishes are prepared, especially for weddings. Be it a marriage party or any other function, every one here - whether rich or poor - prepares Wazwan.\"\u003cbr/\u003e10. Various of pots cooking over wood fire\u003cbr/\u003e11. Various of 'Trami' being prepared for Wazwan - a plate for four people with different types of meat dishes served over rice \u003cbr/\u003e12. Wide of 'Trami' being served to guests seated for  the Wazwan feast\u003cbr/\u003e13. Various of guests eating Trami dishes\u003cbr/\u003e14. Wide of many Trami pots waiting to be served\u003cbr/\u003e15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mohammad Shafi Khan, promoter of Kashmiri Cuisine\u003cbr/\u003e\"They are same, there is no change in that because they can't be compromised as far as the authenticity is concerned, as far as the spices are concerned, as far as the cooking methods are concerned, they can't make any compromise on that because it has been going on for years, may be hundreds of years.\"\u003cbr/\u003e16. Various of men preparing the wood fires for cooking\u003cbr/\u003e17. Various of food cooking on wood fires\u003cbr/\u003e18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Usmaan Ahmad, Kashmir Director, Mercy Corps   \u003cbr/\u003e\"You know, there are about 600 hundred weddings a day during wedding season and that amounts to around 15,000 trees a day cut for firewood which is putting stress on the environment. So, the question is, can we balance our tradition of weddings with our other tradition, deeply held value, which is environmental sustainability which is part of our traditional culture.\"\u003cbr/\u003e19. Mid of burning firewood\u003cbr/\u003e20. Mid of Usmaan Ahmad reading a report on deforestation in Kashmir on his laptop\u003cbr/\u003e21. Close of computer screen\u003cbr/\u003e22. SOUNDBITE: (English) Usmaan Ahmad, Kashmir Director, Mercy Corps     \u003cbr/\u003e\"One option is adopting a different fuel, biomass fuel which can be manufactured, which burns cleanly and puts no stress on the forests. Second is just more fuel efficient methods of cooking using wood but using it more efficiently and the third option is actually to develop farms that grow firewood sustainable.\"\u003cbr/\u003e23. Pull focus from leaves to deforested mountain slope\u003cbr/\u003e24. Wide of mountains and stream\u003cbr/\u003eIn the troubled Kashmir region the grand wedding feast - known as the Wazwan - brings cheer and happiness.\u003cbr/\u003eIntegral to the Kashmiri Muslim culture and tradition, the Wazwan is a sumptuous banquet of many courses cooked over wood fires during three days of wedding rituals.\u003cbr/\u003eBut some environmental groups are concerned the number of weddings in the region is causing deforestation, as trees are felled to fuel the flames cooking the Wazwans.\u003cbr/\u003eWomen are united in song as Kashmiri Muslims come together to celebrate the traditional wedding rituals.\u003cbr/\u003eThese celebrations go on for three days , starting with the henna ceremony and ending with a wedding dinner hosted by the groom's family.\u003cbr/\u003eThere is music and dance as the extended families and guests gather to bless the groom and the bride.\u003cbr/\u003eAnd there is food... lots of it.  \u003cbr/\u003eThe wedding feast is the most important part of a Kashmiri marriage celebration, an elaborate, formal banquet that is integral to Kashmiri culture. \u003cbr/\u003eOver a period of three days, guests are served a wide array of mostly meat dishes blended with dozens of spices and cooked in a variety of curries. \u003cbr/\u003e\"It is a unique wedding ceremony celebrated here in Kashmir from ages and it continues from the day of mehendi (Henna ceremony) up to the reception of Baraat (wedding procession) and continues for another day which is called Walima. So, with all these formalities and traditions we cannot remain without having Wazwan. Wazwan is the special thing,\" says hotelier Habib Mir.\u003cbr/\u003ePreparations to feed hundreds of guests begin weeks in advance.\u003cbr/\u003eA separate enclosure is set up with enough space for dozens of cooks to work under the supervision of the master chef, also known as the 'Waza'.\u003cbr/\u003eThe process of preparing each meal is precise and strictly adhered to by the cooking team - who resemble a small army.\u003cbr/\u003eResponsibility for various stages of cooking is assigned to different sets of specifically trained chefs - from arranging pots of varying sizes to ensuring adequate sourcing of meat and chicken.\u003cbr/\u003eMeat is cut and separated for cooking different dishes by the first group.\u003cbr/\u003eAnother lot pounds the meat to a pulp while others boil, fry and season. \u003cbr/\u003eThe enormity of the task is evident from the vast quantities of meat needed to make the Wazwan.\u003cbr/\u003eFor a guest list of about 1,500 people, more than 2,200lb of meat is used over the three days.\u003cbr/\u003eBecause Waza is a family tradition, the skill of preparing the Wazwan is passed on from generation to generation.\u003cbr/\u003eHaji Abdul Samad has been a Waza for over 50 years.\u003cbr/\u003eHe says the Wazwan has become more lavish over the years.\u003cbr/\u003e\"The tradition of Wazwan came from Iran and slowly the practice caught on here too. A large number of dishes are prepared in this, not only the ones that you see here, but many more. Anything between 20 to 30 dishes are prepared, especially for weddings. Be it a marriage party or any other function, every one here - whether rich or poor - prepares Wazwan,\" Samad says.\u003cbr/\u003eThe meat dishes are cooked in copper cauldrons and pots placed over crackling wood fires , simmering for hours to get the authentic taste and aroma.  \u003cbr/\u003eDepending on the generosity of the host, the number of dishes to be served can be anywhere between 15 to 30.\u003cbr/\u003eIngredients for each preparation are different - but there are always handfuls of spices and chillies added to the bubbling curry pots.\u003cbr/\u003eAmong the most popular Wazwan items are Tabakmaaz, Rista, Rogan josh, Yakhni, Kebabs and chicken in red-curry.  \u003cbr/\u003eThere is some vegetarian fare too, like spinach curry, cheese and mushrooms served in a spice-laden gravy.\u003cbr/\u003eThe meal ends with the serving of Gushtaba, soft mutton meatballs cooked in a gravy of fresh curd.\u003cbr/\u003eWazwan is traditionally served in a huge round plate called the 'Trami', to be shared by four people seated on the floor. \u003cbr/\u003eEvery plate is piled high with rice, with different meat dishes laid out over it. \u003cbr/\u003eEach Trami can have a few pounds of meat and every dish tastes distinct.\u003cbr/\u003ePromoter of Kashmiri Cuisine Mohammad Shafi Khan says the cooking methods and recipes of Wazwan have not changed for hundreds of years.\u003cbr/\u003e\"They are same, there is no change in that because they can't be compromised as far as the authenticity is concerned, as far as the spices are concerned, as far as the cooking methods are concerned, they can't make any compromise on that because it has been going on for years, may be hundreds of years, \" he says.\u003cbr/\u003eBut not everybody is enjoying the party.\u003cbr/\u003eThe extensive use of firewood in preparing the Wazwan has raised concerns about the impact of deforestation and carbon emissions on the Kashmir ecology.   \u003cbr/\u003eWith thousands of weddings every season, a haze of smoke envelops the city as the wood fires burn continuously for three days.  \u003cbr/\u003eEnvironmental groups realise they have to battle cultural traditions. \u003cbr/\u003eA recent survey by the international aid organisation Mercy Corps shows more than 15,000 trees are felled every day during Kashmir's marriage season .\u003cbr/\u003eThe group is now working on a plan to reconcile cooking traditions with the Kashmiri peoples'  love for the environment and the need to preserve it.\u003cbr/\u003e\"There are about 600 hundred weddings a day during wedding season and that amounts to around 15 thousand trees a day cut for firewood which is putting stress on the environment. So, the question is, can we balance our tradition of weddings with our other tradition, deeply held value which is environmental sustainability which is part of our traditional culture,\" says Usmaan Ahmad of Mercy Corps.\u003cbr/\u003eTo make the weddings greener, Mercy Corps is experimenting with alternate fuels like bio-mass, more fuel-efficient methods of cooking and growing more firewood in specially developed farms.    \u003cbr/\u003eThe organisation plans to demonstrate the use of wood-substitutes and to conduct awareness campaigns for the Wazwan master chefs in the valley to reduce the carbon-footprint of Kashmiri weddings.\u003cbr/\u003eThe solutions may help determine the future of one of the world's most ecologically fragile regions and preserve its lush forests and green cover for generations to come.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more 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