Srinagar, Indian-Administered Kashmir – The gold earrings were given to her by her father as a gift on her birthday a few months ago. On March 21, as Eid al-Fitr was celebrated across South Asia, Masarat Mukhtar distributed the gold earrings during an aid collection effort to help citizens in Iran who are trying to escape the US-Israeli war.

She was one of many people in Indian-administered Kashmir who halted their traditional rituals and celebrations on the auspicious day to donate cash, household goods and personal property to people more than 1,600 km (1,000 mi) away.

His cousins ​​followed him, each bringing items of personal value. Families offered copper utensils, livestock, bicycles and a portion of their savings. The children broke apart their piggy banks and shared the savings they had carefully collected over many years. Shopkeepers and traders handed over some part of their earnings to him.

“We give what we like. It brings us closer to them,” said Mukhtar, a 55-year-old woman from Budgam in the central part of Indian-administered Kashmir, before mentioning the name by which the region is also historically known. “That’s what Little Iran does for its name. The bond endures through time and struggle.”

That bond, rooted in historical ties going back more than six centuries, has taken on a much more visible presence during the war – gaining recognition from Iranian officials and growing concerns from Indian officials over some of the money collection methods.

One daughter’s wealth, another daughter’s wealth

Tahera Jaan, 73, saw neighbours donating copper utensils in Jadibal, a Shia-majority area in Srinagar, the largest city in Indian-administered Kashmir.

“Kashmiris traditionally collect these utensils for their daughters’ weddings. We decided to give these to the daughters who lost their mothers and sisters in the attacks,” Jaan said.

Sadaqat Ali Mir, a 24-year-old mini truck driver, contributed one of the two vehicles he drives for his livelihood. Other contributors offered bicycles, scooters and other essential items. Children, including nine-year-old Zainab Jaan, handed over piggy banks.

To be sure, Shias make up between 10 and 15 per cent of the population of Indian-administered Kashmir, which is why the war in Iran has resonated so deeply in the region. But the scope of donations to Iran extends far beyond Shias. Many Sunni families ate simple meals on Eid and diverted household resources toward Iranian relief. Some shopkeepers closed early, while families adjusted daily routines to contribute.

Political and religious figures also participated. Budgam MLA Agha Syed Muntazir Mehdi donated one month’s salary towards the relief effort. Shia scholar and People’s Conference Party leader Imran Raza Ansari noted public participation across all communities.

Pakistan, Iraq, and other countries have also reported similar donation drives in support of the Iranians.

But at the heart of this support for Iran in Indian-administered Kashmir – which also saw large rallies following the February 28 assassination of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – are the rare cultural ties that Kashmir and what was then Persia have shared for centuries.

‘Little Iran’

The Sufi scholar Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani arrived in Kashmir from Hamadan in Iran in the 14th century and introduced religious practices, art forms and Persian literary traditions. Historic mosques show the influence of Persian architecture, and the Persian language has shaped local literature.

Irshad Ahmed, a scholar of Central Asian studies, said the donation campaign, along with prayers, rituals and art forms at this historic reservoir, reflected long-standing relationships. Kashmir has historically been called Iran-e-Sagheer or Little Iran.

Experts said donations hold personal and cultural meaning beyond financial value. “People are not just separated by objects; they are also sharing emotional continuity,” said Sakina Hasan, a lecturer in humanitarian practices in New Delhi.

More than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran during the war, which is currently halted amid a fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The first round of direct talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad last week broke down without an agreement, and mediators are working to push the two sides toward new talks. The ceasefire is due to expire next Wednesday.

donation of lakhs

The scope of donations from Kashmir is significant. Local officials estimate the value of the contributions at up to six billion rupees ($64 million), including cash, gold, jewellery, household goods, livestock and vehicles.

The donations were documented by volunteers at collection points in Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla – another major city – and the northern districts of the region.

Small contributions, including coins, piggy banks and utensils, make up a large part of the total aid in terms of volume. Syed Asifi, a volunteer who manages the central Srinagar collection, said even people with limited means brought whatever they could.

Medical kits were assembled by local doctors, and supply drives were organised by students and educational institutions based on assessed needs in Iran.

The Iranian Embassy in New Delhi acknowledged the contribution in a post on Twitter: “We sincerely thank the kind-hearted people of Kashmir for standing with the people of Iran through their humanitarian support and heartfelt solidarity; this kindness continues.” A video shared by the embassy shows a widow donating the gold she kept as a memento of her husband, who died 28 years ago.

The post was later removed by the embassy, ​​although the mission later re-posted it thanking the people of India and Kashmir.

The embassy said Kashmir’s contribution makes up a large portion of donations from India, with local sources estimating the valley’s share at more than 40 per cent of the total donations.

security concerns

But while most donations are directed to humanitarian purposes, Indian officials have raised concerns about potential abuse. The Jammu and Kashmir Police and the State Investigation Agency (SIA) have said that some of the money collected through door-to-door visits by unverified persons may be channelled into local networks of separatists and armed groups.

“People depositing money directly at the Iranian embassy should not be worried,” a senior official said on condition of anonymity. “Without transparent monitoring, collection by intermediaries may not reach the intended recipients.”

Officials have also asked volunteers to maintain records to ensure compliance with fundraising rules.

Indian officials say there is reason for concern.

They point to the example of 2023, where money collected in southern Kashmir – ostensibly for humanitarian purposes – was allegedly spent towards insurgent groups. Organisers of the Kashmir campaign for Iran say all efforts are humanitarian.