SRINAGAR, Sept 10: A group of young Kashmiri women swapped their traditional Salwar Kameez dress for jogging suits and backpacks and set off on a trek deep in the Himalayas.
At least 20 Kashmiri women, breaking local taboos, became the first group of female trekking in the mountainous region, marred by the violence and unrest during the past 23 years.
They are joined by another 30 male students: all of them are pursuing their Masters or Bachelors degrees in Physical Education (MPed, BPed) at Government Physical Education College Ganderbal in north KAshmir.
R.S. Chib, minister for youth services and sports flagged off the group of enthusiastic young students for a two-day trekking programme, an official statement said.
The group is scheduled to start trekking from Shopian which will conclude at Shardah Sharief in Rajouri district of state’s winter capital, Jammu.
“The group has become the first one to trek via Peer Ki Gali,”the statement added.
This is for the first time girls and boys will be treking together since 1989 in Kashmir where militants’ hold over daily life in the valley has eased, with violence ebbing since.
Chib expressed happiness over such activities of the college which, he said, built mental, physical and moral character of students.
“The trekkers will take full advantage of this opportunity and will learn many new things for their future life. Three best trekkers among the group will be felicitated once they are back,” he added.
