Past of Dal lake

The Dal Lake, in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir state is one of the most exquisite sample of Nature's Beauty. Sir Walter Lawrence had described this world famous water body as the "Lake Par Excellence". The lake is within Srinagar Municipal area and is heart throb spot for the locals as well as for the tourist around the year.

The reflection of the Zaberwan mountain in its clear water; the islet covered with willows and poplars trees; the vegetative strips of floating gardens; the untidy hamlets of peasants; the chatter of aquatic birds; the melodious songs of birds among bulrushes and other trees adds to the grace and charm of the Lake.Great mystic poets of Kashmir have written pages of their poems on the beauty of the Dal Lake. The lake always gives its own enchanting glow and shine in all four seasons of Kashmir. The lake gives livelihood to the people who live in and around it. Early in the morning fishermen row their boats into the lake area with their nets to catch fish. Small vegetable sellers ferry the fresh vegetables through the lake from their hamlets to main vegetable markets. Houseboats are anchored in the middle of the lake side near islets. Houseboats are the special choice to stay during holidays. In the peak season, if the law and order is normal; it is difficult to get accommodation in good houseboats. It is wonderful to enjoy the view of the lake and the mountains around under both moonlight and sun. The calmness of the lake and dark mist green look of the mountain vegetation and plants in the morning hours gives the pleasure to the heart and mind. More often during late night this calmness gets ripped, when some ferry boatman traverses the lake while singing some melody. This ferry boatman, alone oars the boat in pitch dark towards his hearth. His melodious song goes across all the layers of air to lull the listeners in houseboats. One such melodious voice of a ferry boatman on a moonlit night mesmerized Late Smt Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India when she was staying in a houseboat at Dal Lake. She reflected this experience in her book Eternal India by terming this outflow of ferry boatman as "Culture in Illiteracy"      ( Shankaracharya Temple )

Late C.E.Tyndale Biscoe, who introduced first Christian Missionary School in Kashmir in 1881 at Fatehkadal, Srinagar; made the Dal Lake as the hub of aquatic sports activities for his students. He made swimming and rowing of boats compulsorily to the students in the school. Biscoe also organized inter house regatta of his school boys and encouraged the boys to swim across the Dal Lake. Biscoe extended the aquatic sports activities even to Wular lake during the summer months. In one of such aquatic sports activity in Wular lake, 12 Mission school teachers were drowned while rowing 12 oar boat, after their boat got capsized in stormy lake The Mission school boys churned the waters of every bay and gulfs in Wular lake and climbed every peak in the valley.

During the floods in Kashmir, many lives were lost. By this sport, Biscoe created student volunteers who were trained to save the lives of their neighbours from drowning.

This sports festival in the Dal Lake was further championed by Late Ghulam Mohd. Bakshi the then Prime Minister of Kashmir till he headed the state. Late Bakshi was the student of the Biscoe school. He had imbibed sportsman spirit as one of his personality traits from the school teaching. During those years, the lake around Nehru park was decorated with colorful banners, flags, loudspeakers, gas balloons and bugle sounds. Great leaders like Late Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru the then Prime Minister of India used to be Chief guest of honour at Nehru Park point on these events. Boat crews of the of different Srinagar based schools and colleges participated in regattas. All class of people crowded along the Boulvard Bund of the lake to enjoy a thrilling water sports. Under the premiership of Late Bakshi regatta at Dal Lake and Jashn-e-Kashmir were regular grand annual finale. On the culmination of the regatta, Late Bakshi declared school holiday on the next day from the balcony of Nehru park hotel and at times ordered for distribution pastries to all boat crew of the schools / colleges in the lawns of Nehru Park. After G.M.Bakshi rule all these festivities in Dal Lake ended gradually. Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had special fascination for Kashmir. He would never miss a chance to swim in this lake whenever he visited Srinagar.

The lake is girdled by well mettled road along the bank from Dal gate to Shalimar Bagh with long row of poplar trees along the road side. While driving along this road one gets ample time to enjoy panoramic view of the whole lake on one side and a salubrious look of mountain slopes, dotted with a royal castles of the Dogra Kings and Queens. There are many Mughal Gardens laid on the shore of Dal lake. Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Chesmishahi are famous gardens laid by Mughal nobilities. The lower slopes of Shalimar and Zabarwan ranges along the bank of Dal Lake adds a fantastic beauty to the whole area. These slopes are covered with thick vegetation, plants, shrubs and trees. Some of the spurs on the slopes are decked with places which are historically known. Pari mahal has historical background. There are old ruins which were said to be one of the biggest Buddhist library when Buddhism was prevalent among the Kashmiri masses. Darashoku, brother of Mughal King Aurangzeb, had spent many years to study Hindu and Buddhist scriptures and other Kashmiri ethical Philosophies at Pari Mahal. Among the common persons in Srinagar it was a blind belief that Pari Mahal was haunted by faries.On the hillock of Shankracharya there is an ancient Shiva temple, said to be built by Sandiman, the King of Kashmir. Visitors to this sight can have full bird's eye view of whole of Srinagar, Dal Lake, Hari Parbat and the flowing river of the Jhelum (Vitasta). Just below the slope of Pari Mahal, there is a temple of Zestha Devi in the lap of mountain slopes.Of late, the lake has shrunken considerably in size. Water has dried up along the shores, giving way to marshy lands. The houseboat owners flush out all the dirt, filth and all human excrete into the lake thereby polluting the lake further. It has caused great concern to environmentalists. The lake was 6/3kms. in area. Causeways have divided the lake in four parts; Gagribal, Loket Dal, Bud Dal, Nagin Lake.

These water patches/bodies large and small justify that the whole valley must have been glorious lake of the world centuries ago. These geophysical facts get further corroborated, when one finds high altitude lakes and several mountain tarn encircling the valley. 

Merigold Flowers in jammu kashmir

For crop diversification and better yields Commercial Floriculture in India is increasingly being considered as a highly remunerative economic activity by small and marginal farmers. The growth in this sector is reflected in increasing domestic market and exports.      ( Surankote valley  )

The beautiful flowers of Marigold add cheer and brightness to any garden. Growers claim that these flowers are easy to grow, and occupy a prime position because of their useage as one of the most devotional ones. In Jammu-the city of temples, more than 200 small and big vendors sell Marigold every day in the temples and people of all religions use them. It may be astonishing to all of us that Marigold 's annual market in Jammu is touching about Rs. 10.00 crores. Besides its use in religious, social and national festivals Marigold is having the property to control the Plant Nematodes and is also used as a best pest repellant in the vegetable fields.
This flower can be planted in any type of well drained soils having PH 6.5 to 7.5 with sufficient irrigation. In Jammu district the crop can be cultivated 3 times in a year with the suitable varieties as per the location. N.P.K fertilizers and manures should be mixed with the soil after deep ploughing, however, nitrogen should be applied at the time of hoeing which helps in vegetative growth. The most important activity during growing season of the crop is pinching after 40 days of planting for more and vigorous yield.

In Jammu Division three varieties like Pusa Narangi Gandha, Calcutta Gandha, Marigold F1 Hybrid (Orange /yellow) have been introduced by the Directorate of Floriculture, Jammu. Due to the collective efforts of Jammu Kashmir Flower Growers Association, Floriculture Department and SKUAST, the overwhelming response is coming from farming community and farmers practically adopted this crop in a bigger way in various parts of Jammu. Farmers from Ramban to Kathua have enthusiastically adopted it and earn four times better earnings than that from their traditional crops, Even in Kandi belts of Jammu the growers have registered their massive production by growing this hardy crop and earn better yield with their own propagated seeds and indigenous technology. In some villages women farmers have made their Self help Groups and have shown their keen interest with this less labourious crop to empower them selves.

No doubt its fraganence has reached to far flung area of Bhaderwah too. During 2009 one group of villagers in Nalthi Bhaderwah planted Hybrid Marigold and earned 1.75 lac rupees from 10 kanals only and this year a 50 kanal crop is under cultivation for common wealth games under National Agriculture Innovative Programme Project.        ( Peaches  )

In Tehsil R.S. Pura the farmers produces Marigold flowers at high temperatures of 45 degree c and sell them @ Rs. 30/- to Rs. 50/- per kg to local market for their better livelihood. Also the farmers of Village Karotana, Baspur Bunglow, Kattal Battal, Samba, Marh and Bishnah admit that they have earned four times more money than Wheat and their requirement has been fulfilled by such growth of the Flowers and are receiving money every other day.

Realizing the importance of the Floriculture to state economic, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir has introduced the floriculture as a key sector and different centrally sponsored schemes like National Horticulture Technical Mission , Rashtriya Kreshi Vikas Yojna and National Agriculture Innovation Programme are in full swing. In these programmes the Government is helping the farmers by Technical and Financial support .

In the end , I can say that more collective efforts are required for the development of high yielding varieties which suits our Micro Climatic conditions and if sophisticated Market Platform for growers is being provided with practical on hand training Centre and Planned market oriented program is insisted with Pro active approach for tapping the potential Rs.10.00 crores business, the day shall be not be for away when Jammu besides the city of temples shall also be famous for City of flowers . ( Biological Diversity in Himalayas )

Hudh Mata shrine in Kishtwar

The holy shrine of Shri Hudh Mata located in the lap of famous Brahma Peak, said to be abode of Lord Brahma, at a height of about 13000 ft from the sea level in village Nanth Nalah of Illaqa Dachhan, on the northern side of District HQ Kishtwar and Western side of high altitudinal Zanskar, Ladakh is also an abode of Shiv Parivar i.e. Lord Shiva, Mata Parvati and Lord Ganesha. ( Nara Nag Temples )

Amid the picturesque snow peaked mountains, water falls, pastures, lush green flora and fauna of the surroundings, there is a small cave where three naturally formed Shivlingams exist like that of Shiv Khori Shrine in Reasi district. Milky-lime water is dripping on them from the sealing of the cave through naturally formed nipples of udders. There used to be a very small pond, kund inside the cave and with the help of torch light images of different Devi - Devtas could be seen. Mostly the images of Shiv Parivar were seen, some times jointly and some time separately. The amazing thing was that if one devotee saw the image of Lord Shiva, other could not see the same. He could see the image of Mata Parvati or Lord Ganesh or any other Devi, Devta. Unfortunately that pond was broken by some one and does not exist now. Such images can now be seen in another Pond (water bouli) on the top of the cave where Mata Bhawan is constructed. These images cannot be caught in camera nor can these be videographed, but the pilgrims who pay obeisance in the shrine have these darshans and later on they tell that they have had the Darshan of such and such Devi, Devta which means that they have seen the images of different Devi, Devtas in the pious water of bouli. Besides, one can see pairs of pigeons mostly seen in natural Shiv shrines and a live snake is found near the cave and the devotees feel lucky and delighted after having their glimpses.  ( God and Man )

At a short distance from this holy shrine, there flows Trisandhya Nadi (stream) miraculously thrice a day from the top of a hill, and it also cease to exist naturally. The water is luke warm. It is not a regular flowing stream like other streams and mostly remains dry. The volume of the water is so much that it can run a mill. There is neither any lake nor any pond on the top of the hill where from the water could spill. As per Hindu mythology Trisandhya means three times of worship i.e. early morning, noon and evening prayers. Another astonishing fact is that water starts decreasing from the bottom of the stream towards upperside which should have been otherwise as a normal course. One can see the water coming from the upper side but receding from the bottom. After 1 or 2 hours flow not a single drop of water is seen in the stream. This is really a amazing glimpses, perhaps seen no where else. To have a bath in this miraculous stream is considered lucky and auspicious because some times it does not flow as per its routine and the devotees return disappointed and without having a pious bath.

As per a local myth, it is believed that after yogic self immolation of Mata Parvati in the Yagya of his father, Daksh Prajapati, Lord Shiva, on coming to know about this mis-happening reached the Yagya sathal and destroyed it and beheaded his father-in-law Daksh Prajapati. He took her dead body on his shoulders and wandered in the universe. At last He reached this place with some portion of the dead body which by then had been cut into 52 pieces by Lord Vishnu with his Sudershan Chakra. On reaching this place, He disappeared alongwith the dead body in this holy place.

Due to lack of motorable road connectivity from Patimhalla to Dachhan, the shrine has remained unknown to the rest of the State and the world. And does not find place in the religious tourist map of the State, country.
To pay obeisance to the deity and get the blessings of the Goddess, a yearly yatra namely Shri Hudh Mata (Trisindhya) Yatra is being arranged since early eighties. However due to lack of proper publicity, the Yatra has remained restricted to Kishtwar district only. But now, many pilgrims from outside the district and even State have started visiting the shrine during yatra days.

This year the Yatra shall start from Gouri Shankar Mandir Kishtwar on 14 July. Pious Charri shall be taken from Shri Radha Krishan Mandir village Sounder (Dachhan) on 15 July with haltages at Virat Mata Mandir Dilgoot (Panjdhara) Googath and will reach the Bhawan on 18 July. On the said day pilgrims shall have a bath in the pious water of Trisindhya stream. After performing Havan and offering Puran Ahuti on 18.07.2010 the Yatris shall return their homes at about 12 noon. ( Pandrethan Temple )

Pilgrims have to travel about 50/60 kms on foot to perform the Yatra. If Patimhalla - Dachhan motorable road is constructed, it can reduce the journey by 50 percent and the devotees shall have to travel only 25 - 30 kms on foot.

How to reach the shrine.
If any devotees, wants to perform this yatra, he should reach Gouri Shanker Mandir, Kishtwar on 3rd Thithi of Ashard Shukla Paksh. On 4th Thithi, yatris from Kishtwar and outside the District proceed towards Sounder village, the base camp of the Yatra, where from Chari Mubarak is taken on 5th Thithi. It reaches the holy shrine on 7th Thithi.