Cleaning Water Channels and other Traditions of Naltar Valley
Description
My name is Muhammad Khan, and ever since I returned from pilgrimage with my mother, people call me Zawar Khan.
In our region, we had the tradition of blocking water in the streams and channels before the floods came after the winter as Naltar experiences frequent floods. Before blocking the water, women would take pots and containers to fetch water from distant streams and store it at home for use. Shepherds would take their animals to the forest early in the morning and graze them all day, returning in the evening with firewood. Additionally, we would dry meat and make nasalo. On the day of meat drying, we would make 21 small, thick chapatis chupati and place them on a large plate with butter in the middle. We would take these to the livestock shed along with pomegranates and walnuts. We would then hang a pomegranate on some support and take turns throwing walnuts to knock it down, after which all children would share and eat these things. Then we would bring back two animals, like two sheep, slaughter them at home, and dry the meat which we would eat in winter. Before Nowruz, water would start again flowing in the channels. We had a tradition that before the water came back, everyone would clean their respective channels, and once the water arrived, they would irrigate their fields. Later, the women would come together to weed the wheat fields, and when the wheat crop was ready, they would harvest it. They would then thresh it in the threshing floor using animals.
not here
2.5.14.1
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