Even though not native to Kashmir the heron birds are a common sight in the Valley. They also appear in its folklore. An old Kashmiri proverb has it that when the migratory bird is asked, "Why is your beak so crooked?” it promptly replies, “But why do you ask when I have not one straight bone in my entire body!” Artist Praneet Soi became fascinated with these dynamic birds after his stint in Amsterdam where they are an urban menace—much like in Srinagar, where he spent the last decade working closely with the local craftsmen.
29 November 2021
