2 hours ago
3
ARTICLE AD BOX
3 min readSrinagarApr 7, 2026 05:55 AM IST
Eggs being auctioned to raise money for Iran, in Leh. (ANI/Video Grab)
In the Kaksar village of Kargil, a woman turned up outside a mosque last week to donate three hens — her contribution towards the relief efforts in Iran as the conflict in West Asia, following attacks by the US and Israel, drags on.
One of those hens later laid an egg. With a view to encouraging further contributions, the egg was auctioned, starting with a Rs 100 bid. A crowd gathered, and the bids began increasing — the egg was eventually sold for Rs 6,000.
Over the past week, the trend took off in Kargil, and small contributions, like eggs or apples being brought in to street corners for donations, began being auctioned. One such apple fetched a price of Rs 1.05 lakh at Karkitchoo village.
Sheikh Hasnain, who studies in Iran and is currently back home in Kargil, was present at one such auction. “It is a way of honouring the sentiment with which a person brings their household item. People are emotional, and this is their way of showing their support. So, if someone brings an apple and another pays a big amount for it, we are showing respect for their contribution as a community,” he said.
After the killing of Iran’s then Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on March 1, people from all parts of the Ladakh region poured out onto the streets to participate in large demonstrations against the war in West Asia. Contributions have also poured in and continue to do so from different parts of the region. These are subsequently sent to the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi.
The Karkitchoo apple is famed for its long shelf life. “The season usually ends in November, and it is rare to find apples in March. Someone had one apple left in their home from the last season, so he brought it for the auction,” Hasnain said.
The bid started at Rs 200, and eventually, a local businessman, Ilyas, bought it for just over a lakh. “This was his way of showing respect for the person who could only bring an apple and making it count,” the student said.
Story continues below this ad
Kargil has a sizable Shia Muslim population, but over the past month, contributions have poured in from all parts of Ladakh. From school children contributing money from their piggy banks to households bringing their copperware, J&K and Ladakh have come together to offer financial support to Iran.
The Iranian Embassy in India has posted social media messages thanking the people of J&K and Kargil, specifically, for their contributions toward rebuilding Iran.
Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
English (US) ·