THAKUR KASHMIRIS OF CHINIGAAM , KISHTWAR
" I am not a baker . Since there are no jobs , I learnt this activity here in Jammu at a Kashmiri bakery shop. I have studied upto 9th class . I belong to Chinigaam in Inderwal area of Kishtwar. It is just below the Simthen pass that connects Kashmir with Kishtwar by bus . We reach Srinagar in 4 hours. We speak Kashmiri . I am Raina . We came to these mountains during the dark days of Afghan rule in Kashmir. My grandfather has told me that we are from Anantnag district. We became Thakur here but we perform Shivratri Puja like Kashmiri Pandits using walnuts . We prepare Roth like Kashmiri Pandits on Ganesh Chaturthi. In our marriage functions, we prepare Dam-alu, Rajmah,Yellow Paneer, Roganjosh ,Yakhni ,Mutsch and almost all Kashmiri dishes. Nadru we don't have over there .We observe Janam Saptami and Pitra Paksha and Shraddha. Our ladies didn't wear the Dejhur but now many young women wear it .We have family priests. We perform Mekhla like Kashmiri Pandits . We go to Mattan on Mal- Maas/ Bhaan- Maas or to perform Pind-daan . When there was no road, our elders would go on foot . It was 9 hours journey . We have special Rajmah in our area. We have walnuts, fruits and Chinar trees. We have snowfall in winter . In our Village we have some Kaul families apart from Raina and Razdan. I know some Zutshi families also . We used Kangri during winter season. We also grow Monji-haak( Kohlrabi ) in our kitchen garden. The Muslims in our Village also speak Kashmiri . Most of them have come from Anantnag district villages during famines . Unfortunately, many people think that we are only bakers, cooks and domestic helps. "
( Avtar Mota )
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