Koshur Calendar

Kashmiri New Year

Chaitra Shukla Pratipada

The Kashmiri Pandit new year. The thaal — rice, curd, a walnut, bread, a flower, a coin, a pen, a mirror and the new Panchang (Nechi Patri) — is the first thing seen at dawn, an omen of the year to come.

Mahashivratri

Phalguna Krishna Trayodashi

The greatest festival of the Kashmiri Pandits — the Vatuk Puja of Shiva and Parvati. Walnuts are soaked and worshipped, the whole biradari gathers, and 'Herath Mubarak' passes from house to house.

Kheer Bhawani Mela

Jyeshtha Ashtami

Pilgrims throng the spring of Maa Ragnya Devi at Tula Mula. The sacred spring is said to change colour; kheer is offered, and exile or not, the community comes home to the goddess.

Vinayak Tsoram / Roth Puja

Bhadrapada

The Roth — a sweet, sesame-flecked bread — is baked and offered to Ganesha and the family goddess, a day of bhandarah and blessing for the household.

Yaksha Amavasya

Pausha Amavasya

Khichdi is set out for the Yaksha, the guardian of the home, on a deep winter's night — a small bowl left in the dark, an old courtesy to the spirits of the house.

Vitasta Saptami

Jyeshtha Shukla Trayodashi

The birthday of the river Vitasta (Jhelum), the lifeline of the valley. Lamps and offerings are floated on the waters that every Kashmiri Pandit calls Vyeth.