Living in Indian-administered Kashmir, Shabir Ahmad Dar has been selling pashmina shawls for over two decades.
In Mussoorie, a hill town in the northern state of Uttarakhand, where he works, his customers particularly like the featherweight scarves with beautiful embroidery.
The shawls are a symbol of luxury for his customers. For Dar, they represent home; they are a symbol of his Kashmiri identity, with its traditional designs infused with history.
However, having the same identity feels like a curse these days.
Members of a Hindu right-wing gang, apparently enraged over the 26 people killed at a major tourist destination in Kashmir last week, publicly harassed and attacked Dar and another seller on Sunday.
