The aim of this study was to evaluate the methylation status of three important cancer related genes viz. p16, E-cadherin and hMLH1 promoters and to associate the findings with specific dietary habits in Kashmiris, a culturally distinct population in India, with gastric cancer. The study subjects were divided into three age groups viz. 0-30yrs ($1^{st}$), 31-60yrs ($2^{nd}$) and 61-90yrs ($3^{rd}$). A highly significant association between the intake of local hot salted tea in $2^{nd}$ (p=0.001) and $3^{rd}$ (p=0.009) age groups was observed with the promoter hypermethylation of E cadherin. Again a highly significant association between the aberrant methylation of hMLH1 (p=0.000) and p16 (p=0.000) promoters and the intake of local hot salted tea was observed in the $2^{nd}$ age group of gastric cancer patients. The intake of sun-dried food was also significantly associated with the promoter hypermethylation of E cadherin (p=0.003) and p16 (p=0.015) genes in $3^{rd}$ age group. The results of the present study suggest a close association between the aberrant methylation of p16, E-cadherin and hMLH1 promoters and the intake of local hot salted tea and sun-dried foods in Kashmiri population.