Kashmiris Donate Gold, Cash and Valuables for Iran Relief Efforts | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Residents across several parts of Kashmir have donated cash, gold, silver and copper utensils to support civilians affected by the ongoing crisis in Iran, in a series of community-led humanitarian initiatives reported on Sunday.

In districts such as Budgam and Baramulla, locals contributed precious metals and money as a gesture of solidarity, with visuals shared by ANI showing people assembling to deposit jewellery and cash collectively. The donations were largely mobilised a day after Eid, with youth volunteers conducting door-to-door collection drives in Shia-majority localities, The Economic Times reported. Participation cut across age and gender, with women donating jewellery and household items, and children contributing their savings.

Accounts of personal sacrifice have also emerged. India Today reported that a Kashmiri woman donated gold preserved for nearly three decades as a memento of her late husband, an act the Iranian Embassy described as deeply moving. In Budgam, donation stalls were set up outside mosques to collect contributions ranging from cash and jewellery to copper utensils and livestock. “At Masjid Imam Zaman, we have set up a stall with the sincere purpose of collecting donations,” Mohsin Ali was quoted as saying.

The outreach has extended beyond individual neighbourhoods. Reports in Deccan Chronicle indicate that similar drives were organised across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, with mosque committees, volunteers and community groups coordinating collections. Contributions included gold and silver ornaments and cash, with residents describing the effort as a humanitarian response. Nowsheen Zahra from Magam said donating her jewellery brought her “a sense of inner peace and emotional relief.”

The scale of participation reflects a broader community response, with organisers noting a surge in contributions around Eid-ul-Fitr. Women have been at the forefront of these efforts, while children have also taken part by donating their Eidi, the money traditionally received during the festival.

According to Moneycontrol, the initiative has also drawn support from public representatives. Budgam MLA Muntazir Mehdi announced he would donate one month’s salary towards relief efforts, stating that “humanity must come before everything.”

The Iranian Embassy in India, according to media reports has acknowledged the contributions, expressing gratitude and stating that the gesture of the Kashmiri people would “never be forgotten.” People associated with the donation initiative indicated that the collected donations would be routed through authorised channels, including the embassy, to ensure they reach those affected by the crisis.