Norouz in Kashmir: Heralding spring with festive spirit

The overcast skies and light drizzle couldn’t dampen the spirit of people as they were seen reveling in the festive spirit and enthusiastically welcoming the new solar year.

Being one of the most popular festivals in South and Central Asia, Norouz celebrations in Kashmir date back to pre-Islamic times.

According to historians, the festival was introduced and popularized in Kashmir by noted Islamic missionaries who came to Kashmir from Iran many centuries ago.

It is a government holiday in Kashmir and is celebrated by people cutting across the sectarian and ideological spectrum. Like every year, the chief minister of Kashmir and the top government functionaries felicitated people on Norouz and prayed for peace in the troubled valley.

Kashmir’s tryst with the festival of Norouz is age-old and fascinating, says Nissar Ali, a historian.

“Contrary to the widespread perception, Norouz is not only for Iranians or Afghans; it is one of the most popular festivals in Kashmir with long and fascinating history dating back to the time of Sufi saint and missionary Syed Sharafuddin Bulbul Shah who had Iranian lineage,” says Ali.

“The missionaries who came after him, most notably Mir Syed Ali Hamdani and Mir Shamsuddin Araki, who also came to Kashmir from Iran, played a key role in popularizing the festival in Kashmir.”

The Iranian influence in Kashmir, says historian Syed Mohammad Kazemi, has been one of the major factors in Norouz being a widely celebrated festival in this Himalayan valley.

“The unmistakable influence of the Iranian culture in Kashmir, primarily due to the efforts of Iranian Sufi missionaries who came to Kashmir and settled here, is the reason why Norouz is celebrated with such gusto in Kashmir,” says Kazemi. “The festival is not only popular among Shiites, who look at Iran for moral and spiritual leadership, but also among the Sunni population, which makes it significant.”

On the first three days of Nwrouz, markets in Kashmir witness heavy footfall, as people go out with their families to shop, eat and indulge. The world-famous Mughal-era gardens and the stunningly beautiful hill resorts are flooded with visitors on Norouz.

Kamran Ali, who visited Gulmarg – a famous hill station in Kashmir – with his friends this Norouz, says the festival holds lot of significance for Kashmiris. “Norouz is as important as Eid for us, because of its cultural and religious significance,” says Kamran, a university student. “It is a joyous occasion when we visit relatives, eat sumptuous food and go out with friends.”

The major attraction on this festive occasion, however, is the Kashmir’s tulip garden, which happens to be the largest tulip garden in Asia.

Nestled on the foothills of Zabwarwan Mountain, the garden is spread over an area of about 30 hectares with 20 lakh tulips of 46 varieties in its lap. Every year, with the arrival of spring, the tulips bloom and become the cynosure of all eyes.

“The blooming tulips and the blossoming orchards mark the beginning of spring,” says Mushtaq Ahmed, a cultural and environmental activist. “While it is celebrated as the new year in countries like Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, here in Kashmir it heralds the beginning of spring, giving us new hope and new lease of life even in these times of death and despair.”

On this day, people in Kashmir visit their relatives and friends to greet them and convey their glad tidings to each other. They also wait keenly for Tehveel-e-Shams (sun’s entry into Aries), when all the family members gather at one place and raise their hands up in supplications.

The festival of Norouz is also associated with traditional Kashmiri delicacies. On this occasion, people in the valley cook Nadru (lotus stem), Gaadi (fish) and many special desserts, their own version of Iranian ‘haft sin’. They also go to family cemeteries to offer prayers for those who are no longer with them.

“Norouz is special for many reasons,” says Nasir Ali, a scholar and commentator. “It is the Persian New Year and it announces the arrival of spring, giving us another opportunity to start life afresh, with new hopes, new aspirations, new dreams and new resolve.”

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* IRNA-New Delhi Bureau Chief

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