In Kashmir, a traditional community festival keeps a natural spring clean and thriving

For generations, the community of Panzath Nag has been setting aside a day during their annual fruit blossom festival to clean the village’s natural spring.Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir: When Khadijah Begum was a little girl, she would often accompany her grandparents to a natural spring in her village. Her grandfather would catch fish along with other men, and Khadijah and her grandmother would clean them. The spring’s water was so clear, Khadijah recalled, that she and her friends could even apply kohl to their eyes through its reflection.Today, decades since Khadijah's trips to the spring with her grandparents, hundreds of natural water resources in Kashmir, on which local populations have depended for generations, have degraded due to pollution and waste disposal — except the spring she frequented. This natural spring is in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district in the village of Panzath Nag, which translates to 'the land of 500 springs'. Over the years, this perennial spring has managed to preserve its purity and pristine state, thanks to a unique annual festival that has been celebrated through generations. A celebration that "felt like Eid" for the now 76-year-old Khadijah Begum. Rohan Posh, which translates to 'flowering the souls', is the traditional annual fruit blossom festival specific to the region, celebrated in the third week of May before the paddy fields are tilled. The festival happens whenever residents witness the first blossom in their orchards, which are then spread over the graves of the recently deceased. They believe that these fresh blooms will bring comfort to the dead. This festive week, the village elders of Panzath Nag choose a day dedicated to cleaning the spring. Everyone takes a day off for desilting, de-weeding and fishing. People from nearby villages, including children, gather with wicker baskets and mosquito nets, wading to filter through the waters. Later, the villagers take the fish home and have a feast with their families and relatives.People from nearby villages, including children, gather with wicker baskets and mosquito nets, wading to filter through the waters (Photo - Uruss Munaf) While the locals are unsure of when this ritual began, everyone agrees that it's "age-old". "We inherited it from our forefathers — from the era of the maharajas between 1846 and 1947," said Ali Mohammed Shah (63), adding that local residents had cleaned the spring water for generations to avail good water for drinking and irrigation all year round. Moreover, the spring itself finds mention in the ancient texts of Kashmir, the Nilamata Purana and Rajatarangini that were written around the 12th Century.Shabir Ahmad, a local resident, told 101Reporters that the spring brings forth a rivulet, which, alongside irrigating the paddy fields in downstream villages, also provides drinking water to over 25 more villages through supply lines. However, in the summer, aquatic weeds such as algae bloom overwhelm the spring. The collective fishing-cum-weeding activity of the local community then restores the spring the following year. Deeming the festival a perfect example of a "community initiative", environmental expert Dr Irfan Reshi said that the proliferation of weeds in the Kashmir Valley is a significant challenge that's led to biodiversity loss and pollution.Furthermore, a police official from Panzath Nag explained that the benefit of this collective fishing activity could not be denied.As thousands stir the waters, it's natural for the seepage to increase due to the unclogging of the capillaries and the removal of the submerged weeds. Ishfaq Hassan, a visitor from Srinagar currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Science and Water Management at the University of Kashmir, said, "It's an amazing experience to witness hundreds of people in the waters de-weeding and fishing in the spring." The collective fishing-cum-weeding activity of the local community then restores the spring the following year (Photo - Uruss Munaf) He added that in the rural areas of Kashmir, paddy fields are either being converted into housing colonies or horticulture orchards as they suffer from a shortage of irrigation facilities. The streams, rivulets, waterfalls, wells, ponds and rivers here had become dumping sites due to the lack of waste disposal provisions in villages.  "But this village is doing something outside the box                     to keep the spring alive so that it provides water                     to their agricultural land," Hassan added.Another visitor, Maheen from the Environmental Science Department at the University of Kashmir, echoed Hassan's views and said, "Where most water bodies are under tremendous pressure and witnessing such de-weeding exercises without any government or organisational intervention, it's hard to believe the unbelievable results this initiative is fetching."While villagers have participated in this tradition through the years, the festival has also attracted many visitors from Srinagar, much like Maheen and Hassan, who as students of environmental science were intrigued by the land of 500 springs and its self-sustaining traditions. Local residents believe the festival can help strengthen the village's position on Kashmir's tourist map. Shah said this will encourage authorities to take better care of it. Regardless, the villagers are committed to carrying on the tradition in the future. "The festival is a way to connect with our friends, neighbours and family. The event is so lively and fun," Mohammed Shariq (19), a student who lives in the village, told 101Reporters. 76-year-old Khadijah Begum remembers celebrating the festival as a little girl. Her grandfather would catch fish along with other men, and Khadijah and her grandmother would clean them (Photo - Uruss Munaf)Appreciating the festival, environmentalist Reshi raised concerns over the alarming depletion of fresh water, of which 80% is used for agricultural purposes in Kashmir. "Despite such abundant water resources in Kashmir, there is enormous pressure on natural water resources. Nowadays, it is seen that in rural areas, the heritage water resources are polluted and choked by solid waste, household refusals, polythene bags, plastic substances, wrappers, and indiscriminate encroachments. Therefore, the government should promote such community initiatives to motivate more people towards the conservation of water resources."Edited by Devyani NighoskarThis article is a part of a 101Reporters' series on The Promise Of Commons. In this series, we will explore how judicious management of shared public resources can help the ecosystem as well as the communities inhabiting it.

Kangri cancer cases on the rise in Kashmir

Photo credit - Sandeepachetan.com/FlickrThe quintessential heating device used by locals to survive below-freezing temperatures is causing a rare skin cancer that is endemic to the Kashmir Valley.Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir: Kangri or Kangaer, an earthenware pot containing burning coal encased in a wicker basket, is an inexpensive way to keep warm during the harsh winters of Kashmir. The combination of the long pheran, the traditional Kashmiri attire, and the kangri is the most effective and reliable way to safeguard against the biting cold for the poor and underprivileged population in far-flung areas of rural Kashmir where electricity is still a luxury.However, during the last few years, the Valley has witnessed many cases of Kangri cancer, a type of squamous cell carcinoma. Medical experts claim that the overuse of the kangri pot is the principal cause of this type of cancer. A recent study revealed that Kangri cancer patients had a history of using a kangri for 5-6 hours a day, 3-4 months in a year. Elements that are believed to contribute to the development of this cancer are heat, burning wood particles, smoke and burnt chinar leaves.Dr Shaqul Qamar Wani, MD, Associate Professor and Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, State Cancer Institute, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, told 101Reporters, "Kangri cancer is a type of squamous cell skin cancer that is more aggressive than other skin cancers and that usually occurs in the lower part of the body (lower abdomen and inner thighs), due to the frequent placement of the kangri close to these areas to keep oneself warm during chilling winters. As kangri is made and used in Kashmir, this cancer is found only in this part of the Indian subcontinent. In time, the heat injury to the skin takes the form of superficial reticular blackish-brown coloured lesions called 'erythema ab igne' or fire stains, which itself is a precancerous condition. If left untreated, these lesions may take the form of single or multiple well-defined lesions that will continue to grow and may be associated with itching, bloody discharge, and non-healing ulcers."An alarming increase in cases – cause for concernExpressing her concern over the rising number of Kangri cancer cases in the region, she said, "For the last five years, we have registered over 400 patients with skin cancer, including the Kangri cancer patients in our hospital. The educated population are well aware of this disease. However, we need to have frequent awareness programmes for the economically weaker sections of society living in remote areas."  A recent study revealed that Kangri cancer patients had a history of using a kangri for 5-6 hours a day, 3-4 months in a year (Picture credit - Uruss Munaf)Abdul Gani, a 75-year-old man from Central Kashmir's Budgam district, told 101Reporters, "Two years ago, I had some burn marks because of using kangri. I applied some homemade remedies, but they did not help much. So I decided to visit a dermatologist who, after brief treatment, suggested that I visit an oncologist."Gani's grandson, Aqib Hassan, said that his grandfather was advised to undergo many tests after consulting with the oncologist. He recalled that they were stunned when the doctor informed them that the burn marks were starting to show signs of cancer, a disease that was unknown to them."Later, we were advised to consider radiotherapy. My grandfather showed good recovery signs after the procedure. However, due to his advanced age, he suffered from various other health issues besides weakness," said Hassan. The preventive applications of radiation have been noted as "encouraging" in reducing some tumours and eliminating others.Another patient, Ghulam Nabi Dar, 67, from North Kashmir's Baramulla district, was at SKIMS for his follow up check-up after being detected with Kangri cancer last year.He said that before consulting an oncologist, he thought that the burns caused by the kangri were because of a common allergy as it caused itching, bleeding and ulceration. "I was shocked after hearing the diagnosis that there is even such a type of cancer. Initially, I was distraught, but doctors and counsellors encouraged me and gave me hope, and I was motivated to fight this disease," Dar told 101Reporters.He added that the doctors educated him about preventing a recurrence of cancer by avoiding the use of kangri pots close to the body. They recommended he use adequate thermal protective clothing and alternative heat sources.Prevention better than cureDr Shaqul said that detecting this cancer early is the key to the cure. If the disease is localised, then a simple surgical procedure is effective. If it is advanced to locoregional draining nodes, it can be dealt with surgery followed by radiation to the problematic areas. All the facilities required to manage such patients are available in the Valley now.Doctors have been advising patients about preventing a recurrence of cancer by avoiding the use of kangri pots close to the body and using adequate thermal protective clothing and alternative heat sources (Picture credit - Shankar S/Flickr)An article published by Dr Mohmad Ashraf Teli, Departments of Radiotherapy and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar-Kashmir, revealed that surgery is the frequent modality of treatment used in the management of these tumours. Medical health professionals also believe that education and awareness about this type of cancer among the local Kashmiri community could help reduce the incidence rates."Regular medical screening at periodic intervals with blood tests, scans, and physical examinations is important due to its high metastasising potential and possibility of recurrence. Kangri cancer can be altogether prevented by finding alternative ways of keeping ourselves warm during winters. My sincere request to our community is to initiate and practice healthy measures from today to have a better and happy tomorrow. It does not matter how monetarily sound we are; there is always a way out. It may be difficult to replace kangri use all at once, but it will be possible over time. Until then, we should use it judiciously and try to keep it far away from our skin as possible," said Dr Shaqul.

Public-govt initiative transforms Srinagar lakes from dumping grounds to beautiful water bodies

Businessman Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo spearheaded the effort, inspiring local residentsto volunteer and the administration to divert resources to restore the Dal, Nigeen, Gilsarand Khushalsar lakes to their former glorySrinagar: For some time, businessman Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo had been unhappy about the government ignoring the water channels that connected the Dal and Nigeen lakes with the Gilsar and Khushalsar lakes via Nallah Mir Khan.Once beautiful water channels on which houseboats sailed, the Gilsar and Khushalsar lakes had turned into vast dumping grounds. Land mafiosi and locals would often throw garbage and trash into them, garbage from Dal Lake, too, would flow down into the channel and accumulate in Khushalsar. In 2013, authorities had undertaken some work to clean Gilsar Lake, but the effort was half-hearted. The trash retrieved from it would be dumped on the eastern bank and forgotten, resulting in conditions circling back to square one.In other problems related to the poor state of the water bodies, both the SrinagarMunicipal Corporation (SMC) and the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) claimed to have no jurisdiction over them. The only solution, Wangnoo concluded, would be a people’s movement to clean up these lakes.As chairman of the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO), Wangnoo already had some experience restoring water bodies. He decided to set the ball rolling by calling upon the divisional commissioner and request support for the effort, even as he offered to restore the Khushalsaar and Gilsar lakes under his Mission Ahsaas project. Alongside Khushalsar and Gilsar, he also sought support to clean up the navigation channel from Pokhribal to Nalla Mir Khan.With the help of local volunteers, Wangnoo set about cleaning the lake. SMC, on its part, sent over trucks to transport the filth, while LAWDA took the initiative to clear up the choked channels and restore them for navigation.Local residents like Showkat Hussain had witnessed Khushalsar transform from a lovely lake into a dumping ground, in their lifetime. One Rafiq Ahmad Khan, too, was skeptical about anything being done. However, as droves of people joined the clean-up drive as volunteers, they changed their opinion and volunteered themselves. As did Lateef Wangnoo, a local businessman and environment enthusiast.The pristine Khushalsar Lake, Srinagar, a water body cleaned by local residents (Photo Credits - Uruss Munaf)In a matter of 100 days, 1,000 trucks of garbage were removed from the lake, and Khushalsar, once again, took the form of a pristine water body — like it had been in the past.The administration is now working on Gilsar, Nallah Mir Khan and Pokhribal. A drive has also been officially launched to clean up Dal Lake, the biggest tourist attraction in Srinagar, although a lot still remains to be done.Honour bestowedIn recognition of his efforts, Wangnoo was recently honoured as the 'Environmental Green Ambassador of Jammu & Kashmir'. Dedicating the prestigious honour to his parents, his NLCO team and all stakeholders who had tirelessly worked on the cleanliness drive, Wangnoo called on the public — particularly the youth — to support this cause, “as conserving water bodies will be beneficial to many future generations”.However, it is the coming together of the general public and government that earned the appreciation of officials and environmentalists alike.Environmentalist Dr Irfan Rashid sees this as an initiative that will motivate many towards environmental conservation, besides building pressure on organisations and individuals alike to initiate steps to conserve our water bodies.“There's a dire need to identify and assess water bodies and wetlands that need to be restored and conserved, before they are damaged any further. Such initiatives, of course, will need to be encouraged and supported by the government, since no community can command the necessary resources for these,” he told 101Reporters.Appreciating the public-government initiative that brought the foul-smelling Khushalsar Lake back to life, LAWDA Vice Chairman Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat lauded the district administration, SMC and the irrigation department for having supported the initiative. LAWDA, he said, was now in the process of initiating projects involving the restoration of many other water bodies within its jurisdiction, in all of which public participation would be encouraged for better results.The successful clean-up of Khushalsar Lake has set a benchmark and made environment a major talking point among local residents, who are now keen to see the government play a more proactive role in restoring wetlands and other ecosystems. However, they invariably feel: “There's a lot more to do to make the initiative sustainable; the government needs to have a plan in place to conserve water bodies. Without this, a restored water body can get destroyed once again.”

Back-to-village scheme in central Kashmir is an eyewash: Locals

Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir: “I had a lot of hope from the Back to Village (B2V) programme. I expected that with the help of this initiative, I will have my voice heard and get justice,” stated Abdul Ahad, a farmer in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). He claimed that 15 marla (1 marla = 25.3 square metres) of his land in Daharmuna village was occupied illegally.Launched on June 20, 2019, the B2V programme was aimed at ensuring the functionality of panchayats, improving the coverage of beneficiary oriented schemes and doubling the income of the rural population. As part of the programme, gazetted officers of the J&K administration reach out to each panchayat, where they interact with the people and obtain feedback from them so as to tailor government efforts in improving the delivery of village-specific services. However, the population in central J&K claim that they are yet to see the benefit from the initiative. Latief Ahmad, a resident of Daharmuna, mentioned that they have sought help regarding land-grab disputes and the demarcation of Hokersar wetland. He added that people across age groups and gender have participated in the programme, met with officials and raised their issues regarding fair price shops and electricity connection.However, he feels that the initiative hasn’t borne any result. “I think it was a waste of time to even mention our problems as no benefit or any sort of help that has reached us,” he commented.Nusrat Aziz, tehsildar, Budgam, mentioned that they have been religiously working towards the upliftment of the rural population.Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of Soibug, stated that the work, that was supposed to be on priority after the first two phases, hasn’t been completed. After the funds were released, the contractors, who had influence in the local district administration, took up the projects that would earn them maximum profits, he added.Dispute with wildlife departmentFor the residents of Soibug, Daharmuna, Gotapora, Syedpora and other villages, one of the major issues is Hokersar wetland dispute, where the locals claim that their land has been grabbed illegally by the wildlife department even though they have the necessary documents from the revenue department. Flood channel without banks and ruin agricultural land. credits: Uruss MunafAnother Daharmuna resident Tawseef Ahmad stated that about 234 kanal (1 kanal = 20 marla) of land in the village was submerged for 12 years owing to the negligence of the wildlife department. He alleged that the wildlife department had shut a flood channel, which led to the submerging of the land area and with the help of door-to-door collection, they raised Rs 11 lakh and used the money to pump out the water and turn the area into usable land.Ahmad also mentioned that in the first and second phase of B2V, a large number of people had participated, but in the third phase (October 2-12), only the sarpanch of the villages and other committee members put forward their grievances in front of gazetted officers.Ahmad added that the residents’ demand for the upliftment and maintenance of the local playground, which was once the hotspot for stone-pelters and drug addicts, is also pending. Before a cricket match in the Daharmuna village playground. Credits: Uruss Munaf“Saving the ground was our first priority in the B2V programme because our mental and physical peace depends on it. We filed a grievance through B2V twice, but no work has been carried out," he asserted.Pervez Ahmad, a resident of Dundoosa village, mentioned that about 35 kanal of his land has been illegally demarcated by the wildlife department. He said he used to do farming on the land, but now his only source of livelihood has been snatched away.He claimed that the wildlife department has sold out the agricultural lands to land mafia and commercial businesses.Mohsin Maqbool, visiting officer, Daharmuna, told 101Reporters that when he spoke to the locals, he came to know of their dispute with the wildlife department regarding the wetlands, as the locals had original documents from the revenue department.Haider Ahmad Dar, member of the Block Development Council (BDC), Budgam, told 101Reporters that a majority of the work is carried out only on paper and nothing much is happening on the ground.He mentioned that they have requested many departments for help, but it has been denied saying there’s a lack of funds. Citing an example, Dar stated that in Dundoosa village, there are no fair price shops, but no official visited them. He added that the BDC wrote to the officials saying there are no hospitals or doctors in the area amid other things, but no work has been carried out to fix it.Despite repeated attempts, Additional Commissioner (Revenue) of Budgam Rayees Ahmad Bhat and Budgam Divisional Commissioner Shahbaz Mirza weren’t available for comments.