Kashmir’s women take to Dal Lake in traditional shikara race, nearly 170 girls and mothers participate

Nearly 170 women and girls took to the waters of Dal Lake in Kashmir as around 80 traditional shikaras participated in the second edition of a race organised exclusively for females, turning a familiar part of everyday life into a platform to showcase their sporting talent.

Organised by internationally acclaimed water sports coach Bilquis Mir, the event brought together participants from different age groups, including mothers and daughters who teamed up to paddle alongside one another.

For many women living around Dal Lake, shikaras are an essential part of daily life, used for transport, including journeys to school and other routine activities. The race offered them an opportunity to use these traditional boats to demonstrate their skills and explore their potential in water sports.

Bilquis Mir aims to give women a platform

Mir, who began paddling at the age of six and later became the only Indian woman to serve as a judge at the Paris Olympics, said the initiative was aimed at identifying talent among girls and giving them an opportunity to showcase their abilities.

“This is the second edition of our traditional boat race, in which daily routine activities in the interior Dal take place, like when they go to school or perform daily activities using those boats for transportation. The purpose of conducting this boat race was to unmask the talent of these girls and give them a platform where they can showcase their talent,” she said.

Mir said around 170 girls participated across 70 boats, with two participants in each boat. She described the mother-daughter teams as one of the most encouraging aspects of the event.

“The most joyful thing to see was the formation of a mother-daughter pair, where the mother was encouraging her daughter and the daughter was encouraging her mother,” she said.

Drawing a comparison with sporting culture in Europe, Mir said she had seen families participate together in paddling-based sports there. She described the event as a significant occasion for the Water Sports Association and the Kayaking and Canoeing Association, which helped organise the race and provide a platform for the participants.

Participants say race challenges traditional mindsets

For the women who took part, the event was about more than competition. It was also an opportunity to challenge social expectations and encourage greater participation in sports.

Participant Madiha Bilal said women needed more such platforms to demonstrate their abilities and move ahead.

“Here mostly the men are ahead. But if such platforms keep coming for women, women can also go ahead. This is that era where girls should be ahead of boys,” she said.

Another participant, Mahvish, said the initiative encouraged women to step outside their comfort zones and try something new. She thanked the organisers for providing an opportunity to showcase their talent, adding that participation itself was a significant achievement.

“This is not just about winning or losing, it’s all about trying something new, taking the first step, and coming out of our comfort zone,” she said.

Mahvish said she had seen women taking part who were stepping out of their homes for the first time. According to her, such initiatives can help challenge conservative attitudes that discourage women from going outside or participating in public activities.

She added that one woman’s participation could inspire others to follow the same path.

Young participants to begin regular training

The event also opened up opportunities beyond the race itself. Many of the top finishers were under the age of 18 and will now enter a regular training programme, giving them an opportunity to develop their skills further.

The participation of mothers and daughters, along with young girls competing on the lake, reflected the broader purpose of the initiative: to make water sports more accessible to women and encourage them to take part.

For the participants, the race was not simply about winning. It was about gaining confidence, discovering new abilities and creating opportunities for other women to follow.

As the shikaras moved across Dal Lake, the event offered a glimpse of what greater access to sport and encouragement can make possible for women and girls in Kashmir.