Hakeem Junaid
Srinagar, Sept. 24(KNB): As autumn settles over Kashmir, the Valley’s countryside is turning into a sea of gold, with farmers stepping into the paddy fields to begin the annual harvest season.
Across villages, the sight of ripe paddy swaying in the autumn breeze is gradually giving way to busy fields, where farmers are cutting the mature crop and gathering months of hard work into bundles.
For generations, paddy harvesting has remained more than an agricultural activity in Kashmir. It is a seasonal tradition that brings families together, with men, women and children often joining hands in the fields as the crop is reaped and prepared for the long winter ahead.
Farmers can be seen cutting Daan (paddy) through traditional methods before tying the harvested crop into bundles locally known as Poun. The bundles are then stacked for drying and subsequent threshing.
“The crop has matured well this year, and we are hopeful of a good harvest,” said farmer Bashir Ahamad, while working in his field.
For many farmers, the harvest also carries an emotional significance. “It is a time of gratitude. After months of hard work, seeing the crop ready for harvesting brings happiness to every farmer,” said Fayaz Ahamad.
The harvesting season marks one of the most important phases of Kashmir’s agricultural calendar. Paddy continues to be a major staple crop in the Valley and remains closely linked with the rural economy and traditional way of life.
With harvesting now underway, farmers are expected to remain busy in the fields over the coming weeks. Once harvested, the paddy will be dried, threshed and stored for the winter months.
The golden fields of Kashmir, set against the changing colours of autumn, once again tell a story of tradition, hard work and the enduring relationship between the people of the Valley and their land.
Kashmir News Bureau (KNB)