Issue 64 Vol III, May 31, 2008

A R T  &  L I T E R A T U R E

Come spring, come Srinagar beseeches you
Sonia G Handa

“GAR firdaus, ruhe zamin ast, hamin asto, hamin asto, hamin asto” exclaimed Emperor Jahangir when he visited the valley. He must have surely sojourned during spring.

After a dreary, cold and gloomy winter, comes the refreshing spring. The snow starts melting and the emerald green grass emerges from the melting snow as if it has woken up refreshed from a long and relaxed sleep. One look at the emerald green meadow is soothing to the eye, refreshing to the mind and it awakens the soul. Everywhere there is riot of colour-the dancing daffodils, narcissi Nargis, and eye catching irises, coloured calendulas, smiling pansies, the vibrant roses and the lively dianthus. The dainty daisies and the dandelion are smiling through the ground.

Drooping willows and the young pea green leaves of the poplar dancing to the orchestration of sun and wind takes one’s breath away. The apple, almond, apricot and cherry trees too are bursting with their pink and white blossoms as if they too want to be part of nature’s true painting and do not want to be left behind. Nature has woken up, refreshed after a long spell of cold winter with its rainbow colours. Birds and butterflies are also cherishing the sparkle of spring and are out enjoying it. It is as if all the elements of nature are in play to complete the symphony of nature.

All this beauty makes one sing the poem by the poem by William Wordsworth.
“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils.”

This vibrancy of nature is passed on to the humans. They are joyous, relaxed and in tune with nature. This cheerfulness is shared by young and old in their way. Children are playing in the parks their laughter and the soft glow of the sun on their faces showing their happiness. From morning walkers to joggers to people going to work or those enjoying the walks in the late afternoon sun, there is sense of refreshment on their faces.

This beautiful place touches the heart and impacts the mind of the people. With the onset of the spring the people try to be cheerful and hopeful of return of peace to the valley. The guns and the gory bloodshed is not only against Man , but violates the tenets of  bountiful and beautiful nature. They have renewed  hope each year with the onset of spring that their lives will be free from violence and full of peace, joy and happiness. Cheerful people in the gardens remind one of the famous poets, Rumi of Kashmir who said, “This outward spring and garden are a reflection of the inward garden.”

This beautiful city lies on the banks of Jhelum River with Dal Lake and the beautiful Mughal gardens surrounded by the mountains adding to the jewels in the crown of the city. The apt local spring festivals--- Badamwari and Baisakhi mark the onset of spring. The festivals bring the people to the three famous gardens along the Dal Lake. It used to be great dance and music earlier. Now it is less as the fear of the gun looms large.

The main garden is Shalimar Bagh laid out by Emperor Jahangir for his wife Nur Jahan is a work a genius with its gardens laid out along the shady trees and fountains. The Nishat Bagh   which is designed by Nur Jahan’s brother Asaf Khan is also a spectacular garden with Dal Lake and mountains adding to its beauty. The third garden laid by Shah Jehan has sweet fresh mountain spring water known for its medicinal value is Chashmashai. This is also a charming  terraced garden with lovely flowers all over the place. The feeling is being in the heaven and this place truly is a heaven on earth. Tulip garden has also come up in Srinagar which has picture post card beauty of its rows and rows of brilliant tulips attracting lots of tourists everyday. The wild flowers including the rose bushes and tulips colour the hillside magnificently.

In the end there is desire to believe Robert Browning who said,
“The Year’s at the spring,
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hill-side’s dew-pearled;
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in Heaven-
All’s right with the world!”

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