Songs of Lalleshwari

The verses or vaaks of Lalleshwari have been passed down through generations in Kashmiri households in oral tradition and continue to hold an important place in the cultural memory of Kashmiris Hindus.

Lalleshwari's vaaks reflect the spiritual journey of a woman in search of self, transcending the social, political, and religious boundaries of her time. Contemplative and introspective in nature, her verses suggest a path of inner inquiry and self-realization that remains relevant today.

Through this series, I engage with Lalleshwari's teachings by bringing together references to Kashmiri culture, landscape, monuments, texts, and collective memory. These paintings weave the learnings of the past into the present, creating a visual narrative that reflects on cultural continuity, identity, and belonging across time.