THE RIVER PROCESSIONS OF KASHMIR.

 

                      

 RIVER  PROCESSIONS , POVERTY AND  POLITICS …

MAY 1948. VISIT  OF PANDIT JAWAHAR  LAL  NEHRU   TO KASHMIR ..

Residents living  along the Jhelum river  Ghaats  would hang their bedding , Flooring, Blankets , Durries   along the windows of their Houses or Boats .Temporarily forgetting the shadows of poverty looming large over them,
 , Kashmiri  would enjoy the moment and these  river processions.

Every state Guest was taken along the river in a procession. Seated  in a tastefully decorated Boat that lead a Carwaan of Boats , this river procession  was a day long affair  for the residents and the guests  . When the Boats passed through the river , crowds would cheer .The  slogans that were raised by onlookers   changed from  "Maharaja Bahaadur ki Jai "  to  "  Sher e kashmiri Ka Kyaa irshaad ..Hindu Muslim Sikh Ittehaad " and "Azad Hindustaan Zindabaad ".

                                                                 

                                                                               

                         
               ( May 1948. Lead Boat   with Sheikh Mohd Abdullah and Pandit Jawahar lal Nehru )

 The practice of river processions was started during the rule of Maharajas but it was continued for about two decades even after 1947.

And faiz Ahmed Faiz also said something like this ……

Hum khastaa tanon se mohtasibo  

 kyaa maal manaal ka poochhtay  ho…..
Jo umar se hum ne bhar paaya  

 sab saamne laaye dete hain….
Daaman main hai musht e khaak e jigar,

 saaghar main hai khoon e hasrat e mai,
Lo hum ne daaman jhaarr diya ,  

Lo jaam ultaaye dete hain…..

( Autar Mota )