Heratch Mubarakh

Wishing Shivratri Greetings has almost become a ritual. Those were the days when in our childhood ,we used to enjoy SHIVRATRI right from the day the schools closed for winter vacations for a period of two and a half month. We used to call these holidays as Heratch hunzea chutie (holidays on account of Shivratri) and summer vacations for one month used to be named as ‘Amarnathchie chutie’ (vacations on account of Amar Nath yatra). It was probably because the KP students were in majority.

Those were the days of modest plenty. Instead of 100 one had to manage with ten. The life was tension free. No TV serials. Frequent Doonga and Shikara picnics were the source of recreation. Families of both Pundits and Muslims were seen in early spring season in a beeline on way to Badamwari carrying charcoal, samawar, Kashmiri bakery, requisite utensils and tea ingredients to spend the friendly son under the blossom of almond trees.

Shivratri was a long awaited day festival. It was a day of no discrimination. Young and adults would be fed at par with delicacies. Next day children used to get a new pair of shirt and pajama, besides a pocket money of eight annas.

 In each family, the family members, irrespective of age; eighty to eight would sit in a circular formation and play with sea shells. At times the atmosphere around for impartial decision in case of indecisive position of the seashell overlapping each other would get surcharged to the point of explosion in absence of the third umpire. Ultimately with consensus the erring sea shell was shook, thrown up to decide the result as per its position back on to the floor.

Besides indoor, I along with my other friends would play outdoors too. I had mastered the handiwork of making ‘juftus tak and takus juft’ (turning even into odd and odd into even.) Some suspected me of doing some magic to win the game. The venue used to be Parikrama of the local temple or the open grave at the local graveyard. In case of losing the game, I clandestinely used to grab all the sea shells on the floor and cry: “Joeth gav patsha” (Grab is the king). My co-players were from different layers of the society. One of them Ghulam Qadir Sheikh is a multimillionaire today. He is an ‘A’ class contractor. He built the Srinagar Medical College building, Budshah flats and many more Government buildings. He owns Hotels and brick kilns. Another retired as an Executive Engineer, some retired as professors…..one of them from Tankipora runs a horse driven cart. Seeing me in blue blazer with necktie, delighted, he until 1990, the year of my exodus used to stand on his cart and salute me with a smile. I too would reciprocate it with a smile and wave my hand to the passing cart driver.

The next day after the Shivratri, on Salam,  elders from immediate relations and family friends would pour in to convey greetings & pay  @ Half a rupee as Herach Kherch to each child awaiting  with expectations and know not the amount of the Kherch used to be paid to new brides and others not exceeding Rs. 5 each.

Koie lota dhay mairay buchpuen ki herath jub sav kay budhlay dhus he hotay thay muguer bohuet dheir kay intizar kay badh yeh khushee ka din aata tha, dusray din neya kumiz pajama milta tha aur aath aanay herach khreach be milta tha. Daie(two and a half) muhena chutiuen kay may harea zar khel kuer herath munata tha. Mandir ka aanguen aur kabristan ki kubrain harea zar ka thikana hua kurtay thay. Mairay saath khelnay waluen mai say kie chief eng, kie a class thekadar, kie tangue redea chulanay walay bunay. Eik tangue redea chulanay wala mujay tie pehan ker dekh ker bohuet khush hot tha aur chultay raiday per khuda ho ker mujay salam kerta tha. kiya koie mujay ues herath kay mukablay mai koie herath dhay sekta hai. yehan dubai mai baith ker mairay dho nevasiun ko peta he nehie hai ki aaj unka koie tivhar hai. Unka dhadha dhadhi nioda mai hai unka pita shree ek huftay kai liyay austria gheya hai. koenaur kenha vetuk buray gha koie puta nehe. Uen dinuen ek maila sa legta tha jub krujie fotea mai vutuk samgree latee thie aur ghar say koie uski aalet nikaltie thie. aaj kay din ek beeline durya ki aur lugtee thie jehan humary gher ki bahu betyin vaguer burtie thie. aath say laiker aesee saal kay ek dhairay mai baith ker harea zar kheltay thay. maumlee say decission kay liyay kitna shoe shuraba uthta tha......

Thereafter , would start the picnic session. We used to accompany our mother to her mother's place wherefrom we used to accompany our grand mother to her parent's place for a picnic to the nearby mandir garden or Shiwalun or Badamwari. This function is known as Zang-trai. It was a get-together for both children and elders. At the picnic we were served with shiri-chai & kehwa with a telwore and kulchwore respectively. Children used to get 50% of the size the elders would get. This was probably because that time there was not hum Dho & Hemarey Dho. The number being the large , the size had to be reduced.

Nawreh used to assure new clothes to children , picnic to Badamwari, and so was welcome with open arms.

Today's children ,the careerist can't dream the enjoyment that we have relished. Prosperity and career has been at a heavy price.

Brijdass