If you have been watching Bigg Boss 20, you know Qazi Touqeer as the singer from Srinagar who brings his Kashmiri roots into almost every conversation. In one episode, reported by ETimes on 14 September 2026, he talked to his housemates about a concert in Kashmir that was called off. This week marks one year since he finally got to sing on a big stage at home.
We have put the story together from published news reports. We think it also says something true about Kashmir that visiting families notice the moment they arrive.
A quick note before we begin: D2 Holidays is not affiliated with Qazi Touqeer, Bigg Boss or any of the events mentioned here. We are a Srinagar tour operator who enjoys a good Kashmir story.
What was the Tachar Show?
The Times of India described it as Qazi Touqeer's "much-publicised 'Tachar Show'", a concert he planned in Srinagar in September 2025. Here is the timeline, as reported:
- The first plan: the show was set for 14 September 2025 on the University of Kashmir campus.
- The first change: it moved to 17 September in the university auditorium. "We re-advertised, informed our fans, and reorganised everything," he told the Times of India.
- The second change: the auditorium was withdrawn, and moving the event to the university's Zakura campus was suggested. The university registrar told the paper that nearly 10,000 people were expected, so the bigger campus had more space.
- The cancellation: he said he was told only the night before the show that clearance had not been given.
Why was clearance withheld? According to the Times of India, officials declined to comment. The paper said unnamed sources cited possible security concerns because such a large crowd was expected. The university said it had nothing to do with the cancellation. We will not guess beyond what was reported.
The name itself is a fitting one: "tachar" is the Kashmiri word for heat, or hotness.
How Qazi handled it
Losing a show the night before is hard for any artist. By his own account, the crew had come from different parts of the country, the tickets were sold, and he had spent two months promoting the concert across Srinagar.
Even so, the Times of India reported that he said he would not blame anyone, while calling the cancellation a blow to art and culture in Kashmir. He told The Tribune what the night meant to him: "It has been my dream to perform in the Valley, in front of my own people." The Tribune also reported that he appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to support local artists, and that fans rallied behind him on social media.
A year later, in the Bigg Boss 20 house, he brought it up again. ETimes reported that he said no reason was given to him for the cancellation. It also reported that he chose not to turn it into an issue out of respect for a senior singer he has always admired.
One month later, a stage beside Dal Lake
The story does not end with a cancelled show. On 26 October 2025, NDTV's Good Times concert was held at SKICC, on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar. Sonu Nigam was the headliner, and Greater Kashmir reported that Qazi Touqeer performed the opening act. NDTV reported that he became emotional on stage.
Speaking from the stage, he described how someone saw the standee he had brought and asked whether he was trying to win an election. His reply, as reported by Greater Kashmir: "Whoever wins, just respect the artist, that's all."
The next morning he spoke to NDTV, and his words made us smile as a Srinagar travel company. He said friends in Mumbai asked where he was performing, "and they were like, is it New Zealand? That's how beautiful this place is." He also told NDTV, "Everyone here knew the songs," and said "People from all walks of life came together."
Resilience, the Kashmiri way
We don't want to make this story bigger than it is. It is one singer, one cancelled show and one evening that went right. To us, though, it feels familiar. Plans change in Kashmir, sometimes because of the weather, a closed road or a hundred other reasons. People here re-plan, show up again and make the next evening count. We see it every season: a boatman back at the ghat after a slow week, a family-run guesthouse repainting before spring, a shopkeeper who still pours you tea when you buy nothing.
That quiet determination is Kashmiri resilience. It isn't loud, and it rarely makes the news. It is simply how people carry on.
Hospitality that visiting families feel straight away
That same spirit shows up in how Kashmir welcomes guests. As Kashmir Life has written, tea is often the first thing to appear when a guest arrives. Kahwa, the fragrant green tea with saffron, cinnamon, cardamom and almonds, is served through the day as a sign of hospitality. Many of our families say the kindness they met here was the best memory of their trip, even better than the views.
A few simple habits help children and adults enjoy that welcome:
- Say yes to the tea. Even a few sips is a gracious thank-you. For more on this, read our guide to what to do when you are invited into a Kashmiri home.
- Greet first. A smile and a greeting go a long way, and kids usually lead the way here.
- Ask before photos. Especially of people, homes and boats. Most people will say yes, and asking is part of the respect.
- Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees at shrines and in the old city, and carry a light scarf.
- Keep a flexible day. Plans may shift. A spare half-day lets you relax and say yes to an unexpected invitation.
Planning a family trip to Kashmir
If Qazi's friends could mistake Srinagar for New Zealand, imagine your children's faces on a calm evening by Dal Lake as the houseboat lights come on, like the scene in our cover photo. Srinagar makes an easy, welcoming base for families. There are lakeside walks and Mughal gardens, and hosts who will happily tell you their own stories. Start with our Srinagar destination guide, then look at our Kashmir family package. It has an unhurried pace, family-friendly stays and room for those unplanned moments of Kashmiri warmth.
We are a J&K Tourism registered tour operator in Srinagar, and we would love to help you plan. Call or WhatsApp +91 70062 71178, email info@d2holidays.com, or visit us on Boulevard Road, Srinagar.
Disclaimer: D2 Holidays is not affiliated with Qazi Touqeer, Bigg Boss, NDTV or any event organiser. Details of the Tachar Show and the SKICC concert are taken from published reports by the Times of India, The Tribune, NDTV, Greater Kashmir and ETimes.