NASIR YOUSUFI
SRINAGAR: On a sunny day in the first week of May, scores of people assembled in the outer edge of a village near a large spring. Equipped with wicker baskets and mosquito nets, they wade into apparently muddy waters of the spring. Amidst hue and chaos while pushing and dragging baskets and nets in the water body, hundreds of people are actually celebrating the traditional festival of collective fishing in a famous spring of the village.
Situated in South Kashmir’s Qazigund on the foothills of Pir Panjal, Panzath Nag or 500 springs in local parlance is not only known for its aesthetic class and economic treasure, the water body has a mark of hosting one of the unique festival in the world every year.
Every year hundreds of people from Panzath and adjoining areas take part in a centuries old ritual of catching fish in a waist deep waters of Panzath spring. Called Rohan Posh,the festival of fishing is celebrated by hundreds of locals with zeal and fervour. The tradition gains significance as the annual fishing festival serves the more larger agenda of environmental preservation. According to locals, along with fishing the people remove weeds and slit from the water body which keeps the water bodies clean. “These Springs are very sacred for us. They are source of our livelihood. Besides irrigating our fields, the water bodies are a source of aesthetic and recreational activities in the area, says Zubair Ahmad, a college student from the area while referring to the famous spring in the area. According to legend the term Panzath means five hundred and nag means spring. It is believed that the area on the foothills of Pirpanjal mountains was a host to about 500 springs, majority of which have disappeared or dried up , Zubair explains. As our ancestors were very careful about the Mother Nature, they used to carry out annual cleaning of these springs. While removing slit and weeds in baskets, they used to catch fishes too. Thus the tradition passed onto new generations in the form of fishing festival, says Zubair while deliberating upon a major but unique festival in the area.
As the hundreds people split into groups pushing and dragging the traditional fish catching tools collectively to get their share, there is a friendly competition among people in waters for the catch.
“I use to wait for this day throughout year. I have been coming to this festival since my childhood, says Abdul Majeed from adjoining village of Panzath, who has come this time along with his 10 year old son to participate in the annual festival. It is not only the fish that is our motive, the day provides an ample opportunity for the people of area to mingle together and socialize too, adds Majeed.
As the hundreds people split into groups pushing and dragging the traditional fish catching tools collectively to get their share, there is a friendly competition among people in waters for the catch. “we have been trying to catch the fish for half an hour, But so far of no avail, say two teenage friends equivocally. Fish or no fish, But we are enjoying the moment say the duo while pushing their wicker basket through the muddy waters of the spring.”
As most of the baskets or nets remain empty for large number of catchers. Every participant may not able to get the fish but one thing is sure, every individual returns with a more valuable stuff, a basket full of weed, says Sajad Ahmad, a middle aged villager who participated in the traditional event. This kind of fishing is a unique experience as every participant in the event at least carries out the de slitting and de weeding of the precious water body in the area.
As the festival has cultural connotations, the preparations for the annual event begin days ahead in this South Kashmir village. From baskets, mosquito nets to availing leave from the routine work, people make special arrangements on the day. It is not only the men and children who take the centre stage, the women folk too make special arrangements for the day preparing delicacies and a variety of fish curry on the occasion.
We too enjoy the occasion. Along with the men folk, the females too celeberate the annual festival. Though, they do not go into water body for fishing , But they play active role in giving festive outlook to the village and occasion. Zaitoona Begum, a middle aged lady from the village says, the women always wait for the outcome of the event as men folk return home with baskets.
As the villagers enjoy the day in traditional way, the uniqueness of the approach to celebrate the cleanliness of the water bodies makes the festival a precedence for sustainable life.