The Gujjar Bakarwal culture of singing while cutting grass continues since olden times

Munshi Hussain Baniya, a Gujjar Bakarwal local of Shopian district in Jammu & Kashmir says, in the olden days, we used to sow maize and then everybody used to gather to harvest maize.The culture is to do the work collectively by singing songs, playing drum beats and joining in singing to cut grass. Abdul Rashid, a local, says together we enjoy cutting grass. Ali Mohammad Awan belonging to the Scheduled Tribe says, this is our culture which has been continuing from our forefathers. We Gujjar Bakarwals mostly do cattle rearing. We need grass so before snowfall, we cut grass and keep aside. We tie the grass after drying. Our cattle too stay inside during winters.When snow falls, we do not get grass. That is why we make arrangements for our cattle before the snow arrives in Kashmir. The snow covers the land more than 12 feet. The Gujar Bakarwals shower love on their cattle more than children. Showkat Ahmad Awan, another local of the tribe living in Shopian says, our fathers and forefathers did the same and we are simply following the Gujjar Bakarwal tradition.

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