Brief
Kashmir’s 600‑year‑old Wazwan wedding feast evolves for modern families
Veteran chef Ghulam Nabi Baba says the multi‑course mutton feast now includes about 20 dishes, while his son opens a restaurant to keep the legacy alive.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Al Jazeera reported that the traditional Kashmiri Wazwan wedding feast, a multi‑course mutton banquet dating back to the 14th century, is adapting to contemporary lifestyles in Srinagar, Indian‑administered Kashmir.
Veteran chef Ghulam Nabi Baba, 74, explained that the number of dishes has grown from seven to around twenty over centuries, and that a typical wedding now involves about 200 kg of meat, though larger celebrations can require up to 4,500 kg, he said.
Baba noted that core cooking techniques—hand‑pounding meat with wooden mallets and slow simmering in copper degchis over wood fires—remain unchanged. However, his son has chosen to open a restaurant rather than continue the demanding wedding work, reflecting a shift toward serving the cuisine in a modern setting.
Key facts
- Wazwan is a multi‑course mutton feast with roots in 14th‑century Central Asia. (aljazeera.com)
- Chef Ghulam Nabi Baba says the feast now includes about 20 dishes, up from seven historically. (aljazeera.com)
- An average Wazwan wedding uses roughly 200 kg of meat; a large wedding in Delina once required 4,500 kg. (aljazeera.com)
- Baba’s son is opening a restaurant to continue the culinary tradition in a modern format. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Photos: Kashmir’s 600-year-old Wazwan wedding feast adapts to modern life”
