The land of shrines — Kashmir (India)

Srinagar is often described as a city of shrines, where places of worship dedicated to Sufi saints are an integral part of daily life. Islam in the Kashmir Valley developed through Sufi influence, and the tombs of saints remain central to devotional practices, particularly during the urs, the anniversaries marking their passing. During these gatherings, pilgrims come to pray and to make requests at the shrines, which are sites of ongoing veneration.

These spaces bring together men and women in different configurations depending on the context. While mosques are typically frequented by men at set prayer times, shrines become more widely attended during periods such as the urs. Women often visit the tombs to seek blessings, and written requests may be placed and conveyed inside the shrine through intermediaries.

The inner sanctum of some shrines remains restricted, and access is organised according to established rules. Within the broader rhythm of these places, collective practices such as zikr take place, structured around recitation and repetition.

François Struzik has maintained a long-term connection with Kashmir, where he has carried out several bodies of work documenting these devotional settings and the forms of presence they bring together.