Thall La’gaen: The Art of Growing Gold

The agrarian landscape of Kashmir is renowned for its age-old farming practice of planting paddy in summer season, locally referred to as Thall La’gaen or Thall Wawien. The bustling cultivating tradition that continues to captivate viewers, isn’t merely a time of transplantation of Thall (paddy) for peasants, but so charming an occasion to be witnessed yearly.

Although the symphony of this tradition has faded a bit with creeping in of modernization; yet, a large yeomen population who work devotedly, believe in growing gold from their fields by putting in hard efforts.

With the onset of June, the vibrant rhythms of rural life in Kashmir where Thall La’gaen reigns supreme as the harbinger of prosperity and tradition, the jubilant festivity steeped in rich folklore celebrate this cherished agricultural tradition.

To whichever Aebi (wet) field, one’s sight goes to; the farmers seem to seize the opportunity bestowed upon them to unfold their cultivating tradition with the reverberation of traditional folk songs that touch hearts. But how sad! The hustle and bustle of the ritual seems faded now, treated more as a laborious task to be concluded quickly.

However, there used to be a time when Thall La’gaen was like a festivity in almost every household in Kashmir. Paddy fields totally wore a colorful look and buzzed with singing, and planting of the Thaejkaad—a group of people who planted paddy saplings. The melancholy singing, rising up the paddy fields would stop every on-looker and traveler to pay heed to what was sung. As if, somebody has whispered Wordsworth’s heart-crafted words into their ears: “O Listen! For the Vale profound; is overflowing with the sound. No Nightingale did ever chant, more melancholy notes to weary bands…”

Amidst the vibrant tapestry of this activity, lies a great charisma of cultural significance and a testament to the culture of mutual working; helping and understanding each other, unity, love and communal harmony. It was not a burden as treated today. But, an occasion to help each other mutually, make each other’s task easy, and a chance to foster bond of unity, brotherhood and affection within the fabric of village life.

No sooner the shoots sprouted out of the grain from the soaked paddy that was kept in the streamlets than would fondly begin Thaejwaan or Thaejnaer preparation—a patch or piece of land to grow paddy saplings. And when the Beyool (sprouted paddy seeds) was sown; women would gleefully come out with Tahari (yellow fried rice) from their edifices and distribute it either near the Thaejnaer or in the Masjid lawn among the kids. It was a sacred ritual to mark the beginning of the season, believed to bless the fields with a rich yield.

Every other day, the Thaejnaer (paddy nursery) was taken care of by a person, locally termed as Ravechhaen. Farmers sprinkled Soor, the decomposed farmyard ash, to the Thaejwaan that acted as manure for it. Besides this, they also erected Khokh, an effigy used to scare away birds from it. Once 30 to 40 days would go by, and when Thall (paddy) would develop up to 6-7 inches length, it was extracted out called Thall Kadaen. Knotted into paddy saplings called Thaejtoul with thick grass cords; these portable paddy packs were then distributed in the fields for transplantation.

During the extraction was carried out, other members of the Thaejkaad would keep themselves busy readying the fields for the transplantation. Ploughing of the land was done by oxen with traditional Albain, later followed by Allae (next round of ploughing) with Matil (plough type). Not only would men and women throng the fields but kids were also seen so excited to be part of the practice.

We as children would burst into laughter on seeing some peasants enjoying the ride by lifting themselves on the harrow base to level the mud. I still remember how we would bunk the school and join Thaejkaad. Our only duty was scattering knotted paddy saplings into the fields, distributed also by women later in Paejj.

The charm of that Doud Khava (an infusion made with sliced almonds, saffron strands including range of spices like cinnamon and cardamom, etc) brought in the morning in traditional Somavar for Thaejkaad, followed by a lavish lunch brought by women in wicker baskets called Paejj, is chersihable. I recall, lunch was served together in a Traemi (copper plate) on a Paendh (a small raised piece of land to take rest) under the shade of a willow tree which those days would witness a huge rush of Thaejkaad in our vicinity.

Nevertheless, when paddy distribution was over, Thaejkaad would hasten the planting process; singing traditional farming songs to make the whole occasion a memorable one.  Boi Aamai Bare Bare Nadas, Thaejkaads Kar Jal Jal, Bene Rounenum Saerse Kaads, Thaejkaads Kar Jal Jal…, the very heart-touching song of Sagar Nazir chanted ravishingly by Rashida that portrays our rich cultural heritage, and presents a great message of brotherhood, love, kinship and sympathy that strengthened our relations, was even sung those days too.

“Thall La’gaen is a season of joy, benevolence and helpfulness in rural Kashmir, believed to bring family, friends and relatives together. Every other work goes for a toss when Thall La’gaen starts”, says eminent scholar and former secretary cultural academy, J&K, Dr Rafeeq Masoodi. Alas, people are seen least interested in growing the gold ‘of rice’ from their fields now! The work is now outsourced by migrant laborers from outside. It is incumbent upon us to safeguard this rich legacy for future generations to come, Dr Masoodi explained further. 

Manzoor Akash is regular GK contributor, and educationist