In south Kashmir’s Qazigund, a centuries-old community tradition centred around a flowing spring is witnessing renewed energy and wider recognition, reported TOI. The annual Panzath festival, a mix of celebration, collective labour and ritual fishing, drew large crowds again this year as villagers and visitors gathered around the historic Panzath Nag stream for a unique exercise in environmental stewardship.
The festival, believed to be nearly 400 years old, took place on May 17, with hundreds stepping into the shallow waters carrying wicker baskets. Participants scooped out fish, weeds, silt and debris from the stream before emptying them along the banks, turning what could have been a routine cleaning drive into a lively cultural gathering.
According to the report, cheers echoed across the water as people sang Kashmiri folk songs, while others played popular Bollywood music through portable speakers. Spectators lined the banks, encouraging the volunteers who spent hours desilting the stream under the summer sun.
The festival has received increased public attention since Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to it in his Mann Ki Baat programme in 2023, praising villagers for preserving traditional methods of protecting water bodies through community participation.
A festival rooted in ecology
Environmental activist and author Rao Farman Ali said the Panzath Nag spring has long served as a crucial water source for the region. Originating in Panzath village in Qazigund, the stream feeds a network of smaller springs and supports irrigation across several nearby villages.
Ali described the festival as more than a cultural event. “It is both a celebration and a form of community service. The cleaning helps desilt the spring before the paddy sowing season begins,” he said.
Local folklore traces the name “Panzath” to the phrase Paanch Haath, meaning five hundred — a reference to the large number of springs that once flowed through the area, TOI further reported Though many of those water sources have gradually disappeared over the years, the annual gathering has survived, carried forward through generations.
For many residents, the event is deeply tied to memory and identity. Seventy-year-old Abdul Aziz said he has watched the celebrations since childhood and recalls elders speaking about the tradition as one that predates modern records.
The festival also draws academics, environmentalists and tourists curious about Kashmir’s fading ecological traditions. Former University of Kashmir professor Gul Wani travelled from Srinagar to witness the event this year and linked its origins to the Mughal period.
“What may once have been seen simply as a community celebration has gained new relevance today because of climate change and shrinking water bodies,” Wani said. He called the Panzath stream the “lifeline” of the region and urged authorities to invest in preserving the spring and preventing further ecological degradation.
Alongside the cleaning effort, the annual fishing activity remains one of the biggest attractions. Fishing in the stream is permitted only on the festival day, making it a rare occasion for locals. For many participants, catching fish after hours of cleaning is viewed as both reward and tradition.
“Hundreds spend the entire day cleaning the stream. If they return home with some fish, it should be appreciated,” Wani said, suggesting authorities could consider allowing fishing more than once a year.
