Yaarbals were not just geographical features in the landscape of Kashmir; they were the very soul of the community. As time has passed, they have slowly disappeared, leaving behind a legacy of rich social, cultural, and spiritual importance.
By Khursheed Dar
In the peaceful surroundings of Kashmir’s calm waters, Yaarbals used to be lively places full of daily life, culture, and friendship. Located by rivers and streams, these spots were more than just practical meeting places; they were lively centers where people came together. The flowing water and soft winds created an atmosphere where people connected, shared, and celebrated life in its simplest but most meaningful ways.
The word “Yaarbal” finds its roots in the Kashmiri and Persian languages: “Yaar,” meaning friend, and “Bal,” referring to meeting places for connection and exchange. It perfectly captures the essence of what these places represented—spaces of friendship, dialogue, and shared experiences. As Sir Walter Lawrence wrote in his seminal work The Valley of Kashmir, Yaarbals were not mere functional spaces; they were places where life’s simplicity intertwined with the rich cultural traditions that shaped Kashmiri society. These spaces formed the foundation of social fabric, where relationships were forged and nurtured.
Women, in particular, found a special camaraderie in these spaces. Yaarbals became the backdrop for friendships that transcended mere acquaintance; they were communities in themselves, where women, known affectionately as “Yaarbal Kaakin” (Yaarbal sisters), gathered to exchange not only water but also stories, laughter, and life lessons. Here, amid the sound of flowing water, women discussed domestic matters, debated societal issues, and sometimes, humorously fanned the flames of gossip that subtly shaped the social landscape. Yaarbals became more than just gathering spots—they were sanctuaries where women created bonds that lasted a lifetime.
The river Jhelum, flowing languidly from Khanabal to Khadinyar, is another central figure in the cultural and historical narrative of Kashmir. Its slow, deliberate pace allowed the natural evolution of water transport, which became the backbone of the Valley’s economy. From the iconic houseboats to the traditional shikaras and modern bus boats, the river’s influence was omnipresent. Sir Walter Lawrence, in The Valley of Kashmir, beautifully captured the river’s importance, describing it as “the soul of the valley,” a lifeline that connected the people, culture, and economy of Kashmir. The river’s banks, lined with bridges, sufi shrines, mosques, and temples, offered spiritual solace to the people, and Yaarbals, or Ghats, became gateways to these sacred spaces. These ghats served multiple purposes, from facilitating rituals and ablutions to being the places where ashes were immersed, symbolizing the continuity between the earthly and the divine.
For the women of Kashmir, the Yaarbal wasn’t just a place for gathering water; it was a space for social discourse and interaction. Matrimonial alliances were often quietly negotiated here, while heated debates about domestic matters and political affairs took place. In this way, the Yaarbal became a microcosm of the larger Kashmiri society, where the mundane was often interspersed with the profound, and every conversation carried weight.
In rural Kashmir, Yaarbals by springs and rivulets fulfilled similar functions. The springs, revered for their purity and sometimes thought to possess medicinal properties, became central meeting points for women. These women, often braving the harsh seasons, would trek long distances to fetch water, a daily task that allowed for much-needed social interaction. Here, too, the air would be filled with laughter, advice, and exchanges of stories, creating bonds that transcended geographical and social boundaries.
The economic role of Yaarbals was equally significant. They supported livelihoods as bustling marketplaces for water-based goods like fish, nadroo (lotus stem), and other aquatic resources. The ghats and Yaarbals also acted as crucial loading points for timber, grains, and other essential commodities transported along the Jhelum. These spaces were dynamic in their utility, acting as the lifeblood of both the social and economic fabric of the Valley.
Beyond their role as meeting points, Yaarbals were also deeply spiritual. The practice of cleansing oneself in the river before entering temples or mosques was commonplace. This ritual served as a symbolic purification, signifying the importance of physical and spiritual cleanliness in Kashmiri culture. The fusion of the sacred and the social at Yaarbals made them spaces of profound significance, where the lines between the mundane and the divine often blurred.
As time passed, Yaarbals extended their role into the political and cultural spheres of Kashmir. They witnessed historic events, such as Jawaharlal Nehru’s 1948 water rally, which became a defining moment in the region’s political narrative. They also hosted water sports and other cultural activities, adding to their multifaceted identity. Today, places like Nehru Park’s floating post office and the decorated ghats stand as modern reminders of the Yaarbal’s enduring cultural significance.
However, as the region has modernized, the once-vibrant existence of Yaarbals has faded into obscurity. The sounds of laughter and lively conversations have given way to the hum of urbanization and development. The Yaarbals, which were once the beating heart of Kashmir’s cultural and social life, are now but a faint memory. These spaces, where friendships blossomed, disputes were resolved, and sacred rituals were performed, have slowly been replaced by the forces of modernity. The memories of these soulful gatherings, echoing with the verses of saints and the laughter of friends, now remain only as fragments in the collective consciousness of the Kashmiri people.
Yaarbals were not just geographical features in the landscape of Kashmir; they were the very soul of the community. As time has passed, they have slowly disappeared, leaving behind a legacy of rich social, cultural, and spiritual importance. The Yaarbal, in its prime, was a symbol of Kashmir’s unique blend of simplicity and profound tradition, a space where people came together to celebrate, to debate, and to live. Today, these once-thriving centers of life and community are but whispers of a bygone era, quietly fading into history.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of this Magazine. The author can be reached at [email protected]
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