CHINAR SHADE : SOME FLOWERS OF KASHMIR

Flowers inside Iqbal Park, Srinagar, Kashmir

( Photographs Avtar Mota )

FLOWERY MEMORIES OF KASHMIR ..SOME COMMON FLOWERS OF THE KASHMIR VALLEY

“ If you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom.”……. Audra Foveo

In the Kashmir valley, spring and summer seasons present a riot of colours in the shape of flowers, adding A unique grace and poise to the landscape. The spring season, which extends roughly from March to May, is when a million blossoms carpet the valley of Kashmir. The natural meadows of Gulmarg, which are covered with snow in winter, allow the growth of wildflowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and buttercups during the spring and summer seasons. During the spring and summer, when the flowers bloom, Kashmir blessed with rich flora, looks like paradise. Bloom of almond trees marks the onset of spring in the Kashmir valley. Almond flowers ( Badaam- Posh ) mark the end of the harsh winter season in the Kashmir valley although Narcissus ( Yemberzal in Kashmiri ) flower is the first to declare the arrival of the spring season in Kashmir. In Kashmir, one can also see the grace and beauty of cherry blossoms, blooming apricot trees, and apple trees in full bloom during the spring season. One can see colourful tulips in Kashmir during the early spring season. The newly laid out Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden happens to be the largest tulip garden in Asia spread over an area of about 30 ha (74 acres).

Autumn season in Kashmir is a simple golden hue all over as every leaf becomes a flower. Chinar tree adds this mystical splendour all over the Kashmir valley. Saffron flowers arrive in autumn. This perennial plant flowers in autumn. Many people come to Pampore to see the saffron blooms of late autumn in Kashmir. The Mughal gardens of Kashmir are full of Dahlias and Chrysanthemums in the autumn season. The grace of these flowers comes to its peak when most flowers are fading away. Many other flowers add grace and elegance to Kashmir’s autumn season. Flowers are used in every Kashmiri Pandit household for any and every ceremony or ritual. Be it marriage, Mekhla ( Yagneopavit ), Homa ( Hawan ), Shivratri, Janmashtami, Deepawali, visit to a temple or rituals connected with birth, death and birthday, flowers are a part of the ceremony or ritual. Every poet of the Kashmiri language has brought local flowers into his work and quite often used them as metaphors. Even Sufi poets of Kashmir have frequently mentioned flowers grown in Kashmir using them as symbols and metaphors.

Some important flowers of Kashmir could be listed as under:-

1 Hyacinth is Sombul in Kashmiri. This flower is popular because of its fragrance The popular Kashmiri song goes like this, “Moi tson chhu sombul, chovuth yaar Kaman Kaman “ or ’your wine is fragrant like the hyacinth flower, who is there who hasn’t drunk it ? ’

2 German Iris is Sosan that grows in graveyards. Word Sosan is quite popular in the Kashmiri language. Both Pandits and Muslims used the word to convey suffering or misfortune. Sosan is a beautiful flower but destined to live in the graveyards.

3 Self Heal is Kalavyoth in Kashmiri.

4 Amaranth is Mawalin Kashmiri

5 Iris is Maswal in Kashmiri. Maswal flower has been used frequently in Kashmiri poetry.

6 Golden Collyrium is Virikyom in Kashmiri

7 Guelder Rose is Dastaar Posh in Kashmiri

8 Hollyhock is Sazaposh in Kashmiri

9 Marigold is Jaafar in Kashmiri. Jaafar also finds mention in Kashmiri poetry."poozaai khaaraan jaafer photiye- Atiye nazara traav " says Sufi poet Samad Mir . The flower is widely used by Hindus for Pooja or as a part of the offerings to the deities.

10 Convolvulus is Ashaq- pechaan in Kashmiri .

11 Narcissus is Yemberzal in Kashmiri. The flower declares the arrival of the spring season in Kashmir. This flower has white and yellow petals with a unique fragrance. It is native to the snowy valleys of Kashmir and is also a symbol of happiness and prosperity. Dina Nath Nadim’s “ Bombur –Yemberzal,‘ the most popular Kashmiri opera is based on the story of the romance between a bumble bee and the narcissus flower.

12 Jasmine flower Hee- posh in Kashmiri. There is a

popular word ‘Hee-thar’ in Kashmiri meaning a branch laden with jasmine flowers. Hee-Posh is one of the most fragrant flowers

used for making perfumes (Attar).

13 Red Poppy is Gulaal. Looks like a tulip. A wild variety grows in Pampore Karewas much before the saffron crop. A line of poet Nadim goes like this, ‘Gulaal rang nadimas chhu shaaran’ (The couplets of Nadim are red like poppies)

14 Sunflower Is Gule-Akhtaab. in Kashmiri. The flower is now commercially grown as edible oil is extracted from its seeds.

15 Periwinkle is Sadabahaar in Kashmiri

16 Rose is Golaab in Kashmiri

17 Wild Rose is Aarwal in Kashmiri. ( finds repeated mention in Kashmiri poetry. One remembers Sufi poet Samad Mir's popular song, ‘ tan naar daez aarwali ‘

18 Dandelions is Handri in Kashmiri.

19 Water Lily is Nilofer in Kashmiri

20 Lotus is Pamposh in Kashmiri. Hindus consider the entire plant including its seeds sacred. According to the Purāņas, Brahmā ( creator of the universe ) is self-born in the lotus flower. In India, the lotus is known by various names like Pundarika, Padma, Kamala, Utpala, etc. There is a popular saying in Kashmir ‘ lembi manz pamposh ’ about the lotus flower which means that if one has to be in the mud, he must remain above it and shine like a lotus flower. The leaves of a lotus flower were also put to use in Kashmir as saucers for eating food. The lotus roots are eaten as a favourite vegetable in Kashmir. Locally known as Nadroo, these roots are sold as a bundle.

21 Pansy is Panzeen Posh in Kashmiri

22 Saffron flower is Kongposh in Kashmiri. Saffron, the most expensive spice in the world, is a tiny part of a fragrant flower. Scientifically known as Crocus Sativus, it is a perennial herb growing 10-25 cm tall and when autumn begins, it blooms into purple-coloured flowers. The vivid red-coloured three filament ‘stigma’ of this flower is dried to make the spice ‘saffron’. In Kashmir, saffron is extensively cultivated in the plateaus (Karewas ) of Pampore.

“Sarv-o-saman bhi, mauj-e-naseem-e-sahar bhi hai

Aey gul tere chaman mein koi chasm-e-tar bhi hai? “ ......(Moin Ahsan Jazbi)

( Avtar Mota )

                                      Some flowers inside Badaamvaari garden of Kashmir
                                                    ( Photographs .. Avtar Mota )