Lesser-Known Aspects of the Phiran

Familial Symbolism:

• The pheran is more than just a garment; it symbolizes warmth, protection, and family bonds in Kashmiri culture, especially among older generations.

Protective Amulets:

• Traditionally, grandmothers or mothers would sew small charms or protective amulets into the inner layers of a pheran.
• These amulets could include tiny prayer inscriptions, beads, or tokens believed to provide health, resilience, and prosperity to the wearer.

Hidden Pockets:

• Some pherans featured small hidden pockets specifically made to carry these protective items or amulets, blending practicality with cultural symbolism.

Rituals of Respect:

• The ritual of wearing a pheran at the beginning of winter or carefully storing it for summer often involved small prayers or blessings, especially in rural communities.

Spiritual and Cultural Continuity:

• These practices have faded with time, but they reveal how the pheran was revered as a vessel of both physical warmth and spiritual protection, deeply tied to family traditions and values.