Our Ancestor's Shepherding and Harvest Rituals
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Our ancestors traditionally took their livestock to the pastures whereby the village head would announce the departure date and the shepherds would bring the animals there. They would keep the animals in the pastures for four months and collect their milk. Once all the crops were harvested and the fields were barren, the livestock would be brought back. Upon the return of the livestock, an announcement would be made in the village, and everyone would gather at a designated place to welcome them. The shepherds would bring a basket of small bread loaves, and upon reaching the village, they would spread butter on the bread and distribute it among the people. This was a form of offering nazr or niyaz after having returned safely. Our ancestors did not allow the cultivation of potatoes, considering it a bad omen. After the livestock returned to the village, the leaves from the trees were not allowed to be picked. In autumn, when the leaves fell, the animals were left to roam freely and eat the fallen leaves. During snowfall, the animals were fed the saved husk and remaining leaves. The shepherds would shear the animals' wool and make clothes from it. In autumn, each household would slaughter a goat or a cow and dry the meat for use during the winter snowfall. This dried meat is called lassar in Balti. The fat extracted from these animals was used for cooking various dishes. Most traditions of our ancestors have now ceased to exist.
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