Fishing and fresh springs: Kashmiri festival unites villages
The Panzath fishing festival, locally known as Rohan Posh, is a centuries-old tradition wherein hundreds of people from multiple villages gather at Qazigund's Panzath village in Kashmir to fish and clean the water body.
Armed with baskets and nets, villagers flock to the Panzath spring for the annual fish-catching ritual.
An eager boy waits for the arrival of his friends and other family members at the venue.
With water up to their knees, people pluck out weeds while trying to catch fish.
More weeds than fish? No problem! The festival unites communities in pursuit of conservation and prosperity.
“Catching fish is fun, but our main goal is to clean this water body before paddy cultivation,” said local resident Ghulam Nabi.
According to a local legend, Panzath represents 500 springs, including adjacent ones on the Pir Panjal foothills.
The spring Panzath serves as a vital source of irrigation and drinking water for hundreds of families in Qazigund.
Every year, before paddy cultivation begins, local residents clear the water body by removing silt and weeds to ensure proper irrigation.
This eco-friendly tradition also coincides with families commemorating departed souls, offering prayers for them to rest in peace.
The event is attended by young as well as elderly men.
The Rohan Posh festival is organised every summer, bringing people from neighbouring areas together for a cause.
Proudly posing with his small catch, a boy captures the spirit of the festival.
The lead image at the top shows a young man participating in the traditional event at Panzath spring.
Nasir Yousufi is a journalist based at Srinagar.
All photos and captions by Nasir Yousufi