In the furnace of summer, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible winter.
~ Alkheyakh Kemmu
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Winter Walkers
In the furnace of summer, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible winter.
In the furnace of summer, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible winter.
Frozen Jhelum
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| Kashmir in Winter [view of Sher Garhi Palace] Early 20th century via by Michael Thomas of Pipal Press More postcards from the collection here |
“The river Jhelum was frozen over in the winters of 1658, 1764, 1759, 1780, 1816, 1835, 9th December, 1879 and 1st February, 1895. The winter of 1759 A.D. got so much prolonged that the Jhelum was frozen over on as late as 31st March…”
~ ‘Geography of The Jammu and Kashmir State’ (1925) by Pandit Anand Koul.
Akhun Mulla Shah’s Mosque, 1983
Akhun Mulla Shah’s mosque.
Raghubir Singh. ‘Kashmir: Garden of the Himalayas’ (1983).
Yach
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| Pedestal with Yaksha and two lions, 9th century, Kashmir Image: metmuseum |
We know the story…
“In the modern folk-lore of Kashmir, the Yaksha has turned into the Yech or Yach [Yo’c’he], a humorous, though powerful, sprite in the shape of a civet cat of a dark colour, with a white cap on his head. This small high cap is one of the marks of the Irish fairies, and the Incubones of Italy wear caps, “the symbol of their hidden, secret natures.” The feet of the Yech are so small as to be almost invisible, and it squeaks in a feline way. It can assume any shape, and if its white cap can be secured, it becomes the servant of the possessor, and the white cap makes him invisible.”
~ ‘The popular Religion and Folklore of Northern India’ (1896) by W. Crooke
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| The setup for the offering. |
Khetchi Mawas, foodies’ peace treaty with Yakshas
Khich Mavas: a Feast for Yetis and Dogs
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Previously:
Ghoul, Goblin, Succubi and Other Ethereal Preternatural Beings of Kashmir
kangri distich
Ai kangri! ai kangri!
Kurban tu Hour wu Peri!
Chun dur bughul mi girimut
Durd az dil mi buree.
Oh, kangri! oh, kangri!
You are the gift of Houris and Fairies;
When I take you under my arm
You drive fear from my heart.
~ A persian distich from Kashmir about Kangri collected by G.T. Vigne in around 1835.
A closer transliteration (odd though that the lines have been quoted in a bunch of books, no one pointed out the obvious):
O Kangri, with you by my side, I don’t need Houris or Fairies, you are my heart’s only consolation.
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T’suni Waan
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| Coal Shop. Jammu Winter, 2013. |
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Aerial view of Pir Panjal
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| Pir Panjal, looking from Valley. November, 2013. |
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Kangir Seasonal Ditty
Manjho rav ti Tsa’ndav log Kangre,
Poh av ti hoh bariv Kangre,
Magh av ti drag Voth Kangre,
Phagun av ti zagun hyo tukh Kangre
The month of Maghar (Nov/Dec) is to look for Kangri,
Fill the fire-pot even with the rice-husk, because it is Poh (December/January)
It is the month of Magh (Jan/Feb) and the Kangri has become scarce.
Its existence becomes suspicious in the month of Phagun (February/March)
Came Cross these lines in ‘Kashmir Hindu Sanskars (Rituals, Rites and Customs): A study’ by S.N. Pandit.
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