Srinagar 19.03.2010
I am amidst the mesmerizing almond blooms of Badam Vaari or the Almond garden in Srinagar . These blooms declare that Spring is here .The garden has Hari Parbat on one side and the Behraar Ghats of Nageen lake on the other side . Around this garden one can also locate Ram Koul Temple , Pokhribal Temple , Central jail and Hospital for Psychiatric diseases . Makhdoom Sahib’s shrine and Gurudwara Chatti Paadshahi . On the other side of the Hari Parbat hill lies the old historic Temple of Sharika Devi.
When we were young , going to Badaam Vaari was a preferred picnic on Sundays during spring time. It was a craze to blacken your hands and relish Water chestnuts ( Ghour or Singhaara ) in this Garden . It was open on all sides at that time giving you a freedom to enter and exit from any side. No Flower beds . No paths . No Gates . No fountains . Oh yes you were always careful lest you slip into the deep and open dry well nearby known as WARISS KHANUN CHAAH. We once saw a dog inside struggling to come up with many boys shooting stones from the top on this soft target .Many kashmiri singers would be there on Sundays . Raj Begum , Naseem Akhtar . Ghulam Mohd Raah , Ghulam Mohd sofi ( Ama kandhur ) and many more stalwarts would enthrall the music lovers in this Badaam Vaari some times even after sunset.. I once a saw a Bhaand Style play over here . Every kashmiri knows that Late Bakshi Ghulam Mohd Patronised Many festivals in Kashmir one important being the spring festival in Badam Vaari. I am informed by Ali Mohd a gardener that People now visit mostly on Sundays with their families .
Presently Badaam Vaari has undergone a sea change in terms of lay out and beautification . What a wonderful job has been done by Government of Jammu and Kashmir in beautifying this place . Equally praiseworthy is the contribution from Dr Haseeb Drabu Chaiman J&K Bank in Maintaining this garden from his Bank’s coffer . Dr Drabu‘s interest in protection of our Heritage and his efforts in offering well maintained parks and Pathways to people of the state are simply laudable. Now you have an imposing Entrance to this Almond Garden ( Badaam Vaari ) . You find a Proper wall around Badaam Vaari now . You have a spacious car parking .You have pathways inside floored with Kota stone. Beautiful Flower beds . I saw the Yemberzal ( Narcissus ) fluttering in many beds . Yosman flower is about to show its face in some beds . A Central Fountain with an Artistic Stone sculpture attracts every visitor .You have separate enclosure for the music lovers with permanent stage and seating arrangement . The WARRIS KHAN’S CHAAH ( Deep Dry Well ) has been artistically covered to make it look like a Budhist Pagoda .Its top is closed by a wire Mesh . The inside ceiling of this Enclosure has been done in tasteful Khatambandi .You find the gardeners there at 9 AM busy with watering of the flower beds . A nominal entry fee of Rs10 per person is also levied from the visitors now . And lastly the charm and magic of colourful almond blooms transports you to another world . Some times these almond blooms can also be seen falling to ground like snow flakes .Just visit Baadam Vaari this spring to believe me . Till then enjoys some views with lines from Mehjoor ‘s Poem Valo Haa Baagbaano ( Come Gardener ! ) in English translation
Valo Haa Baag Baano Nov Bahaaruk Shaan Paidaa Kar
Pholunn Gul Guth Karan BulBul Tithi Samaan Paida Kar
( Mehjoor )
Come Gardener ! Create the glory of the spring !
Make the flowers Bloom and bulbuls sing ,
Create such Haunts Gardener!
The dew weeps and your garden is desolate ;
Tearing their robes , Your flowers are distracted .
Breathe Life once again into the lifeless flower and Bulbul .
( This Translation of Mehjoor’s poem has been done by Sh Triloki Nath Koul .Prof Rehman Raahi has commented that None Except Shri T N Koul can convey the Typical Mehjoor Aroma even in its English translation )
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.