 Early Times Report
ANANTNAG, May 17: Hundreds of people from multiple villages in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Sunday participated in the centuries-old Panzath festival, a traditional community event centered around cleaning freshwater springs that supply drinking water and irrigate agricultural land across the region.
The annual festival, locally known for collective fish-catching activities, was observed at the historic Panzath spring area near Qazigund, where residents entered streams and spring channels carrying traditional baskets and nets.
Locals said the real purpose of the event is not merely catching fish but cleaning and restoring the natural spring waters that continue to serve nearby villages through tap water systems and irrigation networks.
Villagers participating in the festival said weeds, mud deposits, waste material, and blockages are manually removed during the event to improve water flow and maintain the health of the springs “Weeds, mud deposits, waste material, and blockages are manually removed during the event to improve water flow and maintain the health of the springs.
“This tradition has continued for nearly 500 years,” local participants told the news agency Kashmir News Trust, describing it as a community-driven environmental conservation practice passed from one generation to another.
Panzath, known for its cluster of freshwater springs, derives its name from “Panzath,” commonly interpreted as “500 springs.” The water bodies are considered an important natural resource for surrounding villages in the Qazigund belt.
People from different age groups, including elders and youth, participated in the festival, which also carries social and cultural significance in the area.
Locals said the annual exercise helps maintain water quality before the peak agricultural season, especially when irrigation demand increases in paddy fields and orchards.
The festival has historically drawn participation from people across several villages and is widely regarded as one of Kashmir’s oldest community-based environmental traditions. | 