Sacred Veshaw River in Kulgam

Veshaw River in Kulgam, better recognized as Vishaw or Veshav, stands as one of most significant tributaries of the Jhelum River in South Kashmir and has great geographical, cultural, and religious value, especially for Kashmiri Pandits. The river originates from the Kausarnag Lake in the Pir Panjal range, which is located at nearly 4,000 meters in height. This is a glacial river and our journey begins from one of Kashmirs most sacred locations. The waters of Kausarnag Lake have been lifted to the status of sacred water in local traditions over the centuries, its turquoise waters recognized as holy water associated with Lord Vishnu. For Kashmiri Pandits, the Kausarnag Yatra was the most sacred pilgrimage and was conducted annually until the late 1980s when political instability and migration made it impossible to continue. These were emotional, devotional human experiences. When pilgrims trekked to the lake, they took part in sacred bathing and rituals which symbolized the prosperity and purification sought during their trek.

As it has thus been thought, the river that does flow from Kausarnag would be thought of as a divine offshoot of this holiest of reservoirs, that the Veshaw was not merely a river but a sacred lifeforce as dictated by community religious imagination. As the Veshaw streams down from glacial springs, it nourishes the land area of Kulgam district, which is often referred to as the Rice Bowl of Kashmir, and the Veshaw river and its irrigation networks water its this physically lush are, with its sustaining water coursing through paddy fields, easy apple cropping, walnut crops, and almond crops, sustaining the local economies of thousands of farming families in a community that, at its height, was railed in the Farming lifestyle. The river and its tributaries also sustain a longstanding irrigation system for both alpne/terrestrial and involved in forms of human care and use. Not only does the river present vastly nutritious aquatic life, and especially trout, it has been an eternal feature for helping local fishing. Sites deemed key Kulgam tourist locations, like the Aharbal Waterfall, where the river issues from the rocks with incredible volume, became an infinite destination for either pilgrims or tourists to find the beauty and wonder of Southern Kashmir. 

When it floods, the Veshaw river can also be violent, as witnessed recently in September of 2014 when the river washed away bridges, fields, and homes, reminding us all of the river s naivete, and ferocity. For a Kashmiri Pandit the Veshaw river was a spiritual vessel. Families of Pandit communities in Devsar, Qazigund, Kund, and other villages carried out sacred rituals on the banks of the Veshaw, offering hospitality during rituals during Shivratri, Janmashtami, and Shraddha. The flowing river was sanctified, purifying the devotee 's soul and connecting us directly to the divine source of water at Kausarnag. The local folklore tradition and song featured the terrible sound of the howling Veshaw between the thawing of the Spring rains and early summer, when its banks would again become more manageable. All the elders from the villages would use tell of stories of when the river roared, how its noise became the hymn of nature itself. Family gatherings, picnics, religious festivals were often organized and managed along the banks of the river Veshaw turning it into a space to worship gathering and relaxing.

The migration of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s effectively severed this centuries-long relationship when communities were displaced, the sacred Kausarnag Yatra was suspended for decades, and youth born outside the valley never experienced holy geography from the Veshaw they heard so much of from their ancestors. Several small groups have attempted to revive the Kausarnag Yatra in recent years, but those efforts have remained small in scale and sometimes politically sensitive. Nonetheless, the memory of the bond between the displaced community and the river continues in stories and a profound justifiable yearning for home. The Veshaw River is also sacred to other local Muslim communities, and evidence of shrines and Sufi sites exist on its course, and its waters are known to be pure and life-giving. Historically, even both Hindus and Muslims, shared as a cultural practice for festivals, mingled and celebrated near this river, representing coexistence while in Kulgam. This combined history is partly what make the Veshaw unique in Kashmir's cultural landscape. 

While it is a vital river, it is facing a number of challenges today. Urban waste, agricultural runoff, plastics are beginning to have an impact on water quality, while the adjacent land is being encroached upon which has restricted its natural course and increased the risk of flooding. Climate change is impacting the glaciers leading in the Kausarnag area which will impact the water flow and is going to put the future of irrigation in danger. Perhaps the most concerning challenge we face is the waning respect for its cultural significance. Communities are losing their previous cultural ties to the river. The meaning of 'sacred' is becoming vague. We need to act quickly to address these issues. There are regulations that could be put in place that strengthen anti-pollution laws, adopt sustainable farming techniques, and tighten regulations on construction in sensitive ecological areas. With this we must take steps to promote eco-tourism that supports the natural environment around Aharbal and Kausarnag but still enables economic revenue generation. There is an equally important cultural component to consider. Kashmiri Pandits, as an example, currently in exile could reconnect with the Veshaw River through heritage tours, storytelling, or recording of past rituals. Inter-community initiatives in which both the Pandit and Muslim communities come together to celebrate their commonality to the river could also help to strengthen relationships and enable future generations to collectives honour the sacred legacy of the Veshaw.

In the end, the Veshaw River in Kulgam is much more than a channel that hurries down from the Pir Panjal. It is an ecological lifeline, an economic safety net, and for a long time a sacred symbol that has always been intertwined with the history of Kashmiri Pandits. From the holy Kausarnag Yatra through the fertile fields of Kulgam and the ecstatic magnificence of Aharbal Waterfall, the river embodies the essence of South Kashmir. To safeguard it is to safeguard nature and culture. For Kashmiri Pandits, its waters still represent divine purity and the connection to relatives from generations past. To local farmers, it is their source of food and livelihood. To tourists, it is pure stunning beauty. When you hear the sound of water flowing down the river, you hear the water, the history, and unity and resilience that accompanies it. The Veshaw River thus still remains one of the most critical symbols of Kashmir’s past, present, and future.