Kashmir’s centuries-old Zool Festival lights up the Aishmuqam shrine with torches and timeless legends.
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00:00This is Kashmir's centuries-old Zool festival being celebrated by locals by lighting
00:10within torches mashals. Zool is celebrated annually at the Aishmukham Dargah shrine
00:15of Sufi Saint Baba Zaiduddinwali in South Kashmir's Anantanag, marking the beginning
00:20of agricultural activities of the farmers in the district. The tradition is rooted in folklore.
00:24Baba Zaiduddinwali, a 15th century Sufi saint and disciple of Nand Rishi, was believed
00:30to have defeated a demon that terrorized the villagers.
00:39However, another local legend also attributes the victory to a young orphan named Bhumi Saad.
00:54The demon was seen as a symbol of inner struggles like greed, which was defeated, representing
01:01the victory of good over evil.
01:03People from all religions are believed to come and pay homage to the saint. After praying
01:17through the night, on the 12th of the Shawal, thousands of devotees gathered at the Aishmukham
01:22shrine and lit torches and oil lamps, seeking blessings of the saint.