In Jammu and Kashmir, the concept of marriage has changed significantly in recent years. Rising unemployment, career pressure, dowry expectations, and mental health concerns have led to widespread delays in marriage, especially for women.

According to recent findings, over 50,000 Kashmiri girls have crossed the so-called “marriageable” age, with 10,000 in Srinagar alone. Divorce and widowhood are still met with stigma. Seventy-two percent of divorced women receive no proposals for years. Ninety-two percent of widows never remarry. Many face loneliness, emotional stress, and family pressure.
 

For the Kashmiri diaspora, the challenges are different but equally real. With over five to seven lakh Kashmiris living abroad, many struggle to find partners who match their cultural and religious values.