A journey of no joy for these nomads going back to Jammu
By: Tariq Shah
Srinagar
Nomads along with their herds are coming down from the highlands of Kashmir valley to move to the winter capital of Jammu as in the current season there was no joy for them as the lockdown ensured less funfair marriages in Kashmir giving them no cash from the purchase of sheep.
Most of these families come on their horse back to Kashmir valley in the spring season and move to the highland pastures for the gazing of their animals especially in the Sonmarg area.
Many of these shepherds along with their families also move into the upper reaches of Dachigam area to graze their animals and it was the routine for them to sell lot of sheep’s and goats in the summers in Kashmir valley.
Most of them are not happy with the developments around them. In Sonmarg area they were ordered to move out from the highland pastures due to the growing tension between PLA and Indian army in Ladakh region.
Similarly shepherds from Leh and other areas of Ladakh could not go to the pastures in the eastern Ladakh because of the war like situation in the current months.
These families while talking to this reporter said that they are going with their sheep and goats back to Jammu as the clientele has gone down not only during Eid-ul-Adha because of corona virus but also very simply marriages doing very less Wazwan.
These nomad families are moving to Jammu region for grazing their animals but have no cash with them as they have not been able to sell their animals in Kashmir valley.
