HUES OF KASHMIR
There is something mystical about Kashmir that I was never able to demystify. Anyone who has visited this serene landscape might realize what I am pondering about. For those who have not got an opportunity to visit this heaven on earth, I hope you will, I will explain. The landscape of Kashmir is so varied that every three months you come here, you will notice that the landscape has deceived you by transforming its hues. It’s like the chameleon changing its colours. The landscape speaks for itself. The colours convey the emotions of this mind boggling valley. In Kashmir, the life of the people and the nature are intertwined in the most beautiful way. It feels esoteric, but it’s not. Let me make it simple. In the month of December , I happened to visit this picturesque land for the first time. The landscape with its white carpet welcomed me. There was this crystal like white substance that enveloped the whole region, life was dormant, the trees were decrepitated, the humans just like animals were in a state of hibernation. The temperature was biting into my bones, yes, Kashmir was sleeping like the princess of the epic folk tale, sleeping beauty.
Then the next visit I had was in the month of April. This time you could see that the landscape has shed its white glistening coat. It was bare. Life was beginning to sprout in the warmth of the rising sun. Hibernation is over. One could hear the clamor of life everywhere. The weather was idyllic. The landscape was a golden yellow tint. I mean, something like that. It’s not very easy to describe the hues. The sun’s rays penetrated through the tree line with ease and rebounded off the valley. The landscape rightly conveyed the emotions of the people that the time has come to rise. The weather was pleasant and caring. But, the transition was a precursor to the upcoming summers.
You will realize that if you visit Kashmir in the month of June. The temperature soars. The myths about Kashmir being a snow clad region will be broken. You will feel the heat. The days are hotter. The trees would have grown leaves. Thick foliage everywhere. Visibility will be at its ebb due to dense plant growth. The people are gearing up for farming and the soil is prepared to accept the offerings. The landscape will soon turn into a green carpet, happiness abound, prosperity everywhere.
Now, if you visit in the month of August, it will be like walking on a green carpet. The landscape is conveying the happiness of the people. Harvest is in abundance and there is new life. It’s really a mystery. You are forced to believe that nature can speak for itself and its people. I felt Kashmir is the only place where you feel the intricate bond between the landscape and its inhabitants. Probably for those who are not fond of snow, this is the best time to visit the place. If you dare to visit in the month of September, then it’s autumn. The leaves have fallen, trees shed their foliage and becomes debilitated, only to prepare for the upcoming lull. Winter is just around the corner and once again the trees will become sepulchers of a bygone era. The first snow sounds the death knell only to rise again for it is the circle of life.
– Lt Col Yatinder Singh
