With the tourist season in Kashmir Valley in full swing, there is much to enjoy, not only in terms of breathtaking scenery and adventurous pursuits, but also in terms of traditional practices that have stood the test of time. Afsana Rashid says many local communities still follow age-old mechanisms to meet their needs and support their economy
Traditional props for livelihood that are in harmony with nature add to the attractions of scenic Kashmir. These systems have been developed in consonance with the natural ecosystem and the availability of resources and follow the principles of sustainable livelihood, with the aim of providing the maximum benefits to the maximum number of people.
Dudran, a village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla District is an example of a society which follows these mechanisms. Surrounded by mountains, the hamlet presents a picturesque view, complete with an ice-cold stream gushing over huge boulders nearby. Vast open meadows with remnants of traditional housing structures and agricultural practices present a unique and serene look as well as traces of traditional village life.
Living in the lap of nature, the residents here continue with their ancient practice of preserving milk and its by-products, the major income-generating source for the community. Handed down through generations, the practice (followed by the women-folk) helps keep dairy products fresh, even in the heat of summer, thus sustaining their livelihood. On the hillsides of Dudran, otherwise known as the Milk Village, the locals have constructed small cave-like wooden structures known as doud dour to store milk and its by-products, including cheese, butter and curd. The temperature inside these eco-friendly structures is cool and is maintained by the natural spring that runs through them. This natural refrigerating system therefore has no need of electricity.
“We have been using this method for generations and it ensures that milk stays fresh for a long time,” said Mohammad Sultan, a local, adding that the practice is also followed in adjoining villages like Maidannan and Chotalan.Sultan is happy that the traditions they he and his fellow villagers grew up with are being maintained, because they foster a sense of identity and integrity.
Miles away, in Doodhpathri, a famous tourist destination in central Kashmir’s Budgam District, the people rely on traditional expertise to earn a livelihood too. To woo tourists, local women run small stalls offering teas and bread unique to the region. They prepare maki ki roti (bread made from maize flour), nun chai (traditional Kashmiri salt tea) and kehwa (traditional Kashmiri tea with sugar and saffron). These tea-stalls can be seen all along the road after entering Doodhpathri, also known as The Meadow of Milk.
While some families take the assistance of their children in running the stalls, Shaista Begumprefers to send her childrens to school. In her late twenties, she is assisted by her husband, who runs a shop in a village nearby. He helps her set up the stall early every morning, arranging the gas stove, a table and a few plastic chairs. Shaista Begum then starts her work, preparing fresh rotis,nun-chai, etc. As the stalls are mostly managed by women, they feel empowered. The women have been able to earn some profits, said Shaista, adding, some of them even hold down regular jobs, and set up their stalls after completing their work. “These ventures have been a great source of income for our families,” she said.
Shaista herself worked as a shawl weaver till a couple of years ago, but couldn’t make a decent living out of it, despite the hard labour involved. So she started the tea-stall, and she and others from her native Raiyar Village nearby, who have started similar ventures, are well satisfied. The women are kept busy baking bread and preparing tea even as they take orders from visitors and tourists. “After finishing our household chores early in the morning, we start our stalls here and we see good prospects as tourism is picking up here,” said Shaheena Begum, another woman who runs a tea-stall in the area.
Tourism, undoubtedly, has the potential to improve the livelihood of people and communities. With increase in tourist footfall in the region, economic activities of communities living in and around these tourist destinations have improved. Gulmarg is one of the preferred destinations. Visitors come to see the lofty peaks, vast lush green meadows, stunning landscapes and, of course, ride the cable car (gondola). Adventure tourism has huge scope in the Valley and many visitors flock Gulmarg for that reason. Also known as Meadow of Flowers, Gulmarg attracts tourists practically round the year.
Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Tangmarg, has been running a tea-stall in Gulmarg for more than four decades now. Expressing satisfaction with the tourist-flow, he shared that the place is popular for adventure tourism and many foreign tourists visit during winters. “The tourist flow has picked up over the past few years and many new places have been explored and added to the tourist map of Kashmir. Tourism has been one of the main sources of livelihood (direct and indirect) for people in the Valley,” he noted.
and its by-products.
The Gulmarg Gondola is one of the main tourist attractions and comprises two stages – Gulmarg to Kongdoori (Phase I) and Kongdoori to Apharwat Peak (Phase II). The ride offers a panoramic view of lofty mountain slopes covered in tall pine trees and velvety green grass. Kongdori, a bowl-shaped area lies between Gulmarg and the Apharwat mountain range, around 8,530 feet above sea level, and offers breathtaking views of gigantic mountain peaks and green meadows. Tourists enjoy their visit, clicking selfies, making videos, sipping tea and riding horses. It takes only a few minutes to reach Kongdori from Gulmarg via the cable car service.
Kongdori offers vendors, pony-wallahs, small traders and others an avenue to earn a livelihood. Nazir Ahmad, a shawl vendor at Kongdori, said he gets around 300 customers a day. “This is our source of income, and we are witnessing a good rush of tourists. Generally, May through October is the peak tourism season here,” said Ahmad, who has been in the profession for the past 13 years.
(The writer teaches at the Media Education Research Centre, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. As a journalist earlier, she was associated with a number of national, international and local organisations. She has received media fellowships and awards.)
from Webdoux