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| NAVREH- The New Year day of Kashmiri Pandits | | | Avtar Krishan Trisal
The first day of the Chetr Shukla Paksha is celebrated as the start of Chetr Navratra throughout the country by the Hindus in different socio religious nature as adopted by these communities.
Among all these Hindu communities of the country one of the community known as KASHMIRI PANDITS, who are now in exile in different parts of the country use to celebrate this day as their New Year's day, commonly known in their local dialect as NAVREH because they believe in Sapt Rishi Calendar which will be 01-01-5092 on this day corresponding to 28-11-2072 Bikrimi which starts on 12th /13th of April every year and 08-04-2016 AD which starts on 1st January every year.
The calendar year of Sapt Rishi itself reveal that how old is the Kashmiri Pandit's existence.
This write up is simply to remind my community brothers/sisters and as well as to new generation of my brotherhood that how we used to celebrate our festivals in the valley before we were forced to leave our homes and hearths due to the Islamic fundamentalism.
The preparations for this event ( Navreh) start with previous night with a preparation known as " THAL BARUN".
THAL BARUN:-
A Thali ( metal plate preferably of Bronze) is filled to top with rice on which is placed new Panchang ( ALMANC), Lump of cooked rice, curd in a small bowls, bread, salt, a pen with inkpot, fresh flowers, a coin, a mirror, a photograph of chosen deity and some walnuts. WYE , a herb also was placed but now it is not available. All this is covered with a cloth or another Thali for the night.
On the morning of Navreh ( First day of Chetr Shukal Paksha), an unmarried daughter of the family or in her absence any lady of the house carries this Thali to all members, even to their beds to enable them to have a look at it as the first object in the morning, which is considered very auspicious. The girl/ lady who carries it, is given blessings and presents in cash or kind.
It is tradition which symbolizes prosperity for the coming year.
In Kashmir, the male members used to go to the river bank early in the morning to have a bath. They would carry the walnuts placed over the Thali and offer them to Gods in the river, which were being picked by the waiting boatmen. The rice kept in the Thali was used for making Th'hr which is later eaten by family members.
Th'hr:- It is a tradition among Kashmiri Pandits to prepare Th'hr on festivals which is offered as Naveed (PARSHAD). It is prepared by adding turmeric powder to rice while boiling. Later on Salt and melted ghee is mixed with it.
Further, if whether permitted people used to go for a round of Hari Parbhat to offer Pooja at various temples and also have a picnic there as there used to be almond trees in their early blossom in pink colours at this time of the year. Now the trees of "BADAMWARI" have gone and only the remembrance associated with the festival is there.
It is considered auspicious to wear new or freshly washed cloths on the eve. A new born baby or a new bride in the family is an object of attention, which is showered all the blessing by the elders of the family.
For newly married girl, it is tradition to go their parent's house before the day and return back to in-laws in time to join the festivities. She may carry some curd and cash from her parent's house as a good omen (shagun).
Third day of the Navratras is celebrated as ZANG TRAI. On this day married daughter of Kashmiri Pandits get an invitation filled with love from their parents to be part of their all deliberations and for feeling oneness with them. The day is celebrated with all felicitation at the parental house. The children accompany their mother and receive the blessings from grandparents.
The grandparents enjoy the playful moods in their hearts. What a beautiful expression of get together with a nice exposition of mutual interaction between the daughters and Parents!
The Kashmiri Pandit married daughters look forward for this day as they consider this day as a good omen for the welfare of their parents and they return in the evening on the same day with new dresses and customary noon ( Salt), Tsocha ( Bread cakes) and ATGAT ie some cash. These three items are must to be given to the married daughters, whenever they come to their parents' house at the time of their return to their homes.
While concluding, I am of the opinion that now all these traditions of Kashmir have died but if our community has to survive all these traditions have to be revived according to the place where the family is in exile by organizing get together, monthly meetings and personal contacts with Biradari members.
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