BEAUTIFUL MINI KASHMIR IN JAMMU PROVINCE KNOWN AS BHADERWAH
BHADERWAH : A BEAUTIFUL MINI KASHMIR IN JAMMU
PROVINCE OF
J&K STATE .
(Photographs Autar
Mota )
"The happy
region-the prettiest country ever seen in the mountains."
Sir G.T.Vigne,
who toured this region in 1842 A.D., described Bhaderwah in these words .
“Tracing his
ancestral roots Mr. Azad said that his great grandfather had migrated from the
Valley of Breng in Anantnag to district
Doda, around 150 years ago. He said that the people of the two areas shared
same culture, tradition and history”
(http://jammukashmir.nic.in/view/june22. Website of jammu and Kashmir .)
“Jenab this is
Chhotaa kashmir( Mini Kashmir ) . You can find Kouls , Misris , Rainas ,
Razdans , Zutishis and many other kashmiri Pandits living peacefully since ages
. You shall also find Zargars , Bandays
, Nayaks , Misgars , Wanis , Bhats , Ahangars ,Mirs and Dars amongst kashmiri
muslims also living happily . Most of the kashmiris living here have migrated
out in middle of Nineteenth Century from Anantnag district due to recurring
Famines and failure of the then rulers to come to the rescue of starving
villagers .”
Said Ghulam Nabi Bhat who met me near Jamia
Mosque Bhaderwah
Bhaderwah is also know
as “Nagon ki bhoomi” or’‘ land of Snakes '.
The Bhaderwah Town ( Nagar Bhaderwah ) was known as Hettary Nagar and
prior to that, there were two other towns namely Donga nagar and Udho Nagar.
Bhadarwah was ruled by "Naga Dynasty"
The powerful kingdom of Bhadu Bilawar also existed
in nearby Hills and its rulers conquered and annexed the states of
Bhaderwah and Basohli to their Kingdom.
Prince Radhk was given the state of Bhaderwah and he ruled it calling himself
Raja Lakshmi Dev. He shifted his capital to Bhaderwah proper called Nagar. The
last king of this dynasty was "Pahar Chand".
During the rule of
Maharaja Ghulab singh , Bhaderwah became the part of J&K State.
When Maharaja Partap Singh was crowned , Bhaderwah was given as
"Jageer" to
his younger brother Raja Amar Singh.
Bhaderwah is known as Chhotaa Kashmir ( Mini Kashmir ) in
jammu and Kashmir state .It is a beautiful valley with hills of Kishtawar in
its north , Chamba ( HP ) in its east , Basholi area of jammu near river Ravi
in its south and Chenani area of Udhampur district in its west. One can safely
call this place as a queen of hills . Perched at a height of about 5300 feet
from sea level and surrounded by snow clad hills with Deodaar forests on all
sides , this area has a unique history and culture .You find kashmiri Pandits ,
kashmiri speaking Muslims , Gaddis , Thakkars ,
Wazirs , Kotwals , Parihars , Chib Rajputs and Manhas Rajputs , Khatris from Punjab
,Mahajans and Bhaderwahi speaking Locals of other tribes and castes living in
peace and harmony . One can safely call it as a melting pot of many cultures
and civilizations .
To reach this valley
, one has to take a right turn on Jammu Srinagar road near Batote and go all
along river Chenab upstream to reach DODA . DODA is about 60 Kms from Batote.
Baglihar Hydro electric Project has submerged vast area of Doda
district in Chenab waters . Even
Pul DODA market has submerged
along with the old bridge on Chenab at Doda . This Dam has
given depth to Chenab from Baglihar upstream
and made it silent . One could
hear lot of noise near Chenab banks prior to the construction of Dam reservoir
of Baglihaar . Surely Depth does bring
silence .
(A view of Seri Bazaar Bhaderwah during Annual Chandi Mata Yatra.. Photo .D. K.Dogra )
(Dussehra in Bhaderwah.Photo D K Dogra)
(Dussehra in Bhaderwah.Photo D K Dogra)
At DODA, Neeru stream Coming from Bhaderwah hills
joins mighty Chenab So another right turn at Doda and about 30 Kms in upstream
direction of Neeru lies Bhaderwah . It just resembles Pahalgham valley of
kashmir .The temperature during summer ranges between 18 to 30 degrees
centigrade making it climatically more pleasant then srinagar . Its bewitching
beauty enthralls any visitor.
.
The construction of
residential houses in Bhaderwah is done
in Kashmirian style of architecture .The Dubs , Dark alleys , Gossiping men on
roads , Butcher shops , kadam vegetable ,Pherans ,Kashmiri bakery shops , Azaan and Vedic Mantras from Loud speakers
during morning hours make every
kashmiri feel as if he is at
some place in his motherland .
Newly constructed mosques bear the Minaret
and the Dome architecture but the older ones seen all over the district
bear close resemblance to kashmirian Style architecture .The temperature
during summer ranges between 18 to 30 degrees centigrade making it climatically
more pleasant then srinagar . Its Bewitching beauty enthralls any visitor.
The annual kailash
Kund Yatra is a festival joined by hindus and muslims .The ancient Vasuki Nag
temple , Guptganga Temple , Chandi Mata Temple , Jamia Mosque and Gatha Mosque
are largely frequented religious places .The black stone single piece images in Vasuki Nag Temple were covered by
cloth when i visited and the Purohit informed that the same would
be opened for public Darshan after Baisakhi day.
( Final site of Kailash Yatra ... Photo Dharam Kant Dogra ) A three day long Mela Patt is also celebrated every year to commemorate the historic meet between Emperor Akbar and Raja Nagpal of Bhaderwah . Some time in 16th century, Raja Nagpal is reported to have gone to Delhi to meet the emperor .This festival is devoted to Lord Vasuki Nath ,the presiding deity of Bhaderwah .It is organized on the conclusion of Kailash Yatra.Wearing colorful clothes, people dance on the tunes. Of ancient Dakhu.The traditional Dakhu dance is a special attraction of this Mela.
( Mela Patt Bhaderwah .. Photo Dharam Kant Dogra )
( Final site of Kailash Yatra ... Photo Dharam Kant Dogra ) A three day long Mela Patt is also celebrated every year to commemorate the historic meet between Emperor Akbar and Raja Nagpal of Bhaderwah . Some time in 16th century, Raja Nagpal is reported to have gone to Delhi to meet the emperor .This festival is devoted to Lord Vasuki Nath ,the presiding deity of Bhaderwah .It is organized on the conclusion of Kailash Yatra.Wearing colorful clothes, people dance on the tunes. Of ancient Dakhu.The traditional Dakhu dance is a special attraction of this Mela.
( Mela Patt Bhaderwah .. Photo Dharam Kant Dogra )
( Mela Patt Bhaderwah .. Photo Dharam Kant Dogra )
“Kyaa saa Vaaray
chhukh ”
( Are you OK in kashmiri )
“ Pandit Ji salaam ”
“Bee Shaa ji ”
( Sit down please in Bhaderwahi )
“Kodi Ghaano ”
( Where are you going
in Bhaderwahi )
You hear these words
most frequently while moving in the Bazar . They are kashmiri and
Bhaderwaahi words .Bhaderwah has been an
important town on old Shawl route of
Kashmir .This shawl route means Srinagar – Anantnag – Daksum – Kishtwar
– Bhaderwah – Basholi _ Chamba and other
kingdoms of Himachal. Kashmiri Shawls and craftsmen have travelled from this
route to Chamba and Basholi in early
17th and 18th century .
Basholi area of
kathua district had a long relation with Kashmir . Some painters of Pahari
Style miniature Art were kashmiri Pandits. I quote Dr M S Randhawa eminent Art Historian :-
"This family of
Razdan or Raina Brahmins were responsible for the introduction of one of the
most romantic movements in fine art in almost all the principalities of
jasrota, Basohli, Guler, Jummu, Chamb, Noorpur and Kangra. Pandit Shiv Raina
and his sons, Manak and Nainsukh the master painters of pahari miniature were
in fact kashmiri fugitive Brahmins ."
The rulers of Basholi
had kashmiri Pandits as their Raj Purohits . I happened to know one Razdan
family that owned large agriculture land in and around Basholi . Prakash Rani
Razdan MLC was from this Razdan family of Basholi and her ancestors were Purohits and
painters in Basholi Darbar . She was
from Lahore and was known for her
aristocratic life style . She enjoyed
horse riding and Paan chewing . I came to know many forgotten links of Basholi
and Kashmir during my stay in this area as Manager of our bank’s Branch
.Pashmina shawl industry flourishes in Basholi town to this day even . Even the
kings of Jasrota ( Kathua ) had kashmiri shawl Craftsmen in their kingdom .
.
It is Wonderful to see that people in Bhaderwah use Kaangri in
winters . Kashmiri
Muslims use Rabab and NOETT (Matka ) in singing CHAKRI in CHALANT
style
.Bhaderwahi is the major spoken language of the area . People still
remember late Prof Saproo principal of Bhaderwah Degree college with
reverence and regard for spread of education in this area. Strangely but
true ,
away from Kashmir you are in Kashmir.
Tourist potential areas of this region are :-
Seoj and Kailash
Jai valley-sabardhar
Sonbain-Guldanda-chatergala
Padri Gali-Bhal Padri
Bhaderwah town and periphery
A motorable road
has now been completed to connect
Bhaderwah with Basholi. A bridge on
river Ravi at Basholi shall connect this area with Pathankote . Kishtawar- Bhaderwah road is
operational since last 50 years . A road also links Kishtwar with Anantnag now
( Via Simthan pass ) .Thus this area now comes on the alternate connectivity to
Kashmir via Pathankote directly . That opens flood gates of Tourism for this
area . This position qualifies Bhaderwah to be developed as a Gate-Way of
State’s Tourism.
People in
Bhaderwah Town are mostly well educated . Most of them are
Teachers ( in colleges , schools and universities ) , Doctors , Lawyers and
Engineers .Bhaderwah has a degree college in the town imparting quality
education since early fifties . University of Jammu has also established an Offsite campus at
Bhaderwah. Kashmiri culture and language
is widespread in entire Doda and adjoining Kishtwar districts of the state .
And then Abdul Qudoos Rasa Javidani(
1901-1979), an eminent poet from this area wrote his poems both in Urdu and Kashmiri language
. Rasa belonged to a family which had migrated from village Kadipora in
Anantnag (Kashmir )to Bhadarwah.
I end this post with
lines from a a beautiful GAZAL of
this poet . This GAZAL has been sung soulfully by well known kashmiri singer Raj Begum sahiba
Masharaavthhuss
janaana Tche Kurr yaad Peymoy Baa,
Chhukh Az wafaa
begaan Tche Kurr Yaad Peymoy Baa.
Raadhaaiy Jigruss
Kaan Taarith Baal maarith Guvv,
Goopaal Krishen Kaanhaa
Tse Kurr Yaad Peymoy Baa.
( Rasa javidaani )
Love ! Willfully you
forgot me !
when Shall you
remember me !
Why are thee so
noncommittal to my Love !
when Shall you
remember me !
Piercing arrow in
Radha’s tender heart,
you move playfully
away.
O Gopaala ! O Krishna
!O Kaanhaa !
when Shall you
remember me !
Written by ; ( Autar Mota
)
Posted by : vipul koul
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