SRINAGAR: The opening day of the Budget Session of Parliament saw a quiet yet striking assertion of cultural identity as Baramulla Member of Parliament Er Rashid entered the House wearing a pheran, Kashmir’s traditional loose woollen robe. In a space often defined by uniform political symbolism, the attire stood out as a reminder of regional identity carried into the country’s highest democratic institution.
The gesture drew attention precisely because of its simplicity, an unspoken statement made without slogans or spectacle, his party sources said
Reacting to the moment, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the pheran in Parliament symbolised self-respect and cultural presence. “A Kashmiri cultural identity preserved and carried into the House. MP Er Rashid attending Parliament in a pheran is not merely about attire; it is about dignity and self-respect. Even in confinement, his roots stand visible,” he said.
Inam recalled that the pheran has previously been at the centre of controversy in Jammu and Kashmir. “At a time when people were not allowed to enter the Civil Secretariat wearing a pheran, it was Er Rashid who broke that barrier and asserted the right to wear our traditional attire,” he said, adding that Rashid consistently wore the pheran while attending Assembly sessions during his tenure as an MLA.
According to Inam, the act carried a larger message for India’s parliamentary democracy. “Parliament must reflect the cultural diversity of the country. Such expressions reaffirm that Kashmir’s voice, heritage and dignity continue to find space inside the Parliament of India,” he said.
The pheran, worn for centuries across Kashmir as protection against the region’s harsh winters, has long been a marker of social and cultural identity. Its appearance on the floor of Parliament, supporters argue, reinforces the idea that regional traditions need not be shed to participate in national political life.
