WHY IS AUTUMN (HARUD) MOST IMPORTANT SEASON OF KASHMIR ?

Описание: HARUD -In the Kashmir Valley, there is a season that speaks volumes, a time when the crisp air carries tales of the past. This season is Harud, or Autumn. It is more than just the turning of leaves; it is the grand harvest, the economic lifeblood of the valley since time immemorial.
The story of Harud is the story of Kashmir’s people—their resilience, their suffering, and the rich cultural tapestry woven from the threads of the land itself. This series explores how this single season has shaped the history, heritage, and heart of Kashmir.

This documentary has seven parts:

1-HARUD: An Introduction
Harud is not merely an end to summer’s warmth but the culmination of a year’s labor and hope. It is the season when the valley’s history is written in golden paddies and the scent of saffron. We introduce Harud as a living chronicle, a portal through which we can understand the complex relationship between the Kashmiri people, the land they cultivate, and the powers that have governed them. It is a time of both bounty and anxiety, a paradox that has defined life in the valley for centuries.

2-The Khal: A Stage of Power and Survival
At the heart of this seasonal drama was the Khal, the communal threshing floor. This was no simple barn; it was the epicenter of economic life, where the fate of each family was decided. Here, harvested grains were piled high before being divided. The Khal was a public stage where the state exerted its authority, and for the common farmer, it represented a year of hard work hanging in the balance, awaiting the tax collector’s decree.

3-Systems of Control: Officials, Taxes, and Famine
An elaborate system of governance evolved around the harvest. A hierarchy of officials, from the village level upwards, was tasked with collecting the state’s share of the produce. This system of taxation changed over time, often becoming oppressive. Before the historic “land to the tiller” reforms, when the government owned all land, farmers were subjected to crushing levies. This led to the dreaded practice of begaar, or forced unpaid labor, a cruel system that drove many to flee their homes and fields, sometimes leading to widespread famine when the land was left untilled.

4-Echoes in Tradition: Proverbs and Folklore
The collective experience of Harud—its cycles of abundance and scarcity, justice and oppression—became deeply embedded in Kashmir’s folklore. Proverbs and sayings emerged as a form of popular wisdom, capturing the anxieties and survival strategies of the people. These oral traditions served as both a guide for navigating the difficult realities of the harvest system and a quiet commentary on the social order.

5-The Harvest of Heritage: Charity and Marsiya
The harvest was also a profound time for reinforcing the spiritual and social fabric of the community. With the bounty collected, acts of charity and almsgiving were central to expressing gratitude and ensuring the well-being of the less fortunate. In a unique cultural synthesis, communal gatherings during Harud were also occasions for reciting Marsiya, elegiac poems usually commemorating martyrdom and loss but here these were recited as being greatful for the Almighty's bounty . This practice linked the material abundance of the harvest with spiritual reflection and shared heritage.

6-Mangaiy: The Barter System of Resilience
In the shadow of the formal, often punitive tax system, a parallel economy of mutual support flourished. Known locally as Mangy, this intricate barter system allowed communities to survive and thrive. Families would exchange grains for services, crafts, or other essential goods, bypassing the official economy entirely. Mangy was a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the Kashmiri people, creating a network of interdependence that fostered community solidarity.

7-A Season for New Beginnings: Marriages in Harud
With the demanding labor of the harvest complete and granaries filled for the winter ahead, Harud was traditionally the most auspicious season for marriages. It was a logical and joyous choice, marking a time of relative prosperity and freedom before the onset of the harsh winter. This period of celebration, filled with feasts and festivities, represented a hopeful new beginning, fueled by the bounty of the land and the promise of continuity.
Watch this video to know HARUD in a different prespective.
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