Showcases Army-Awam bond, over 2,100 youth participate, 3,000 attend finale as Indian army promotes culture, discipline and social harmony in North Kashmir
Bandipora, Dec 21 :
The Indian Army on Saturday organised the Grand Finale of Kashmiruk Fankaar Season III 2025 at Bandipora, marking the successful culmination of its flagship youth-centric cultural and sports initiative aimed at empowering local youth and strengthening the Army–Awam bond.
As per news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC, The event was graced by Major General Tushar Sharma, VSM, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Kilo Force, as the Chief Guest. Senior civil and security officials including Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Ms. Indu Kanwal Chib, Brigadier Hemant Singh Ponwar, VSM, Commander 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, and SSP Bandipora Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Zargar were also present, reflecting strong civil-military coordination.
Despite freezing winter temperatures, an overwhelming crowd of over 3,000 people gathered to witness the finale, while the three-week-long programme saw participation from around 2,100 youths. Launched in 2023, Kashmiruk Fankaar has grown significantly and has emerged as a major platform for youth engagement, creativity and discipline, particularly during the winter break.
Season III was conducted from December 3 to December 20, 2025, in three structured phases. The first phase focused on sports camps to promote teamwork and discipline, followed by awareness capsules on responsible citizenship and social values. The final phase featured competitive cultural activities including singing, dancing, painting and traditional Kangri-making, celebrating Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage.
The grand finale was further enlivened by the presence of renowned Bollywood and local artists including Tinu Verma (actor, director and producer), Mir Sarwar, Shahid Latief, Nazir Josh, Qayoom Badshah, Saniya Mir, Simran K and singer Ishfaq Kawa. Their performances added colour and vibrancy to the event, keeping the audience engaged throughout.
Army officials reiterated that initiatives like Kashmiruk Fankaar play a vital role in positively channelising youthful energy towards peace, progress and social cohesion. The programme concluded with a prize distribution ceremony, reaffirming the Indian Army’s long-term commitment to the prosperity, unity and development of North Kashmir. (KNC)