Nazia Qureshi
In the tranquil valley of Kashmir, spring has always been more than just a season of blossoms—it has been a time of spiritual awakening, community bonding, and cultural renewal. In the 1980s and 90s, this spirit was embodied in three vibrant festivals: Rashmaal Soobun, Batmaal Soobun, and Misha Soobun. These celebrations, intertwined with the spiritual legacies of revered saints like Baba Hyder Reshi (Resh Mol Sahib) and Hazrat Sheikh Dawood Sahib (Batmol Sahib), offered a moment of unity and grace that is now wistfully remembered by those who witnessed them.
The Ritual of Renewal: Cleaning and Preparation
Before these festivals began, there was a flurry of activity in homes and neighborhoods. Women and men alike undertook thorough spring cleaning, scrubbing walls, sweeping courtyards, and whitewashing homes to welcome the season with purity and respect. Wells and water sources, so vital to life in Kashmir, were also carefully cleaned, and fresh flowers and garlands were woven to decorate shrines, doorways, and pathways.
In Anantnag, elders remember how families would wash every utensil and decorate their homes with wildflowers and twigs, creating a sense of spiritual freshness and anticipation. In Srinagar’s Batmalu, families would gather around their neighborhood wells, cleaning them thoroughly and placing oil lamps and flower petals to signify gratitude for the pure water. In Rainawari, entire neighborhoods participated in communal cleaning of shared spaces, preparing them for the communal prayers and feasts of Misha Soobun.
As Bashir Ahmed, a retired schoolteacher from Habba Kadal, recalls, “The cleaning was as important as the celebration itself. It was about making space in our homes and hearts for blessings to flow in.”
Rashmaal Soobun: A Tribute to Nature’s Renewal
Celebrated mainly in the serene villages of Anantnag and Pulwama in South Kashmir, Rashmaal Soobun marked the rejuvenation of nature at spring’s onset. Families gathered along rivers and streams, carrying garlands—rashmaal—woven from wildflowers and twigs. These offerings, placed in flowing waters, were prayers for a bountiful harvest and the well-being of the household.
Elders recounted how these flowers, carried by the river, would spread blessings downstream to all who lived along its path. This festival echoed the spiritual ethos of Baba Hyder Reshi (Resh Mol Sahib)—born in Dantar village of Anantnag—who preached the sanctity of nature and abstained from worldly indulgences like meat and onions. His teachings, inspired by his spiritual guide Hazrat Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (RA), emphasized a life of purity and devotion. Resh Mol Sahib’s shrine in Anantnag’s Mohalla Reshi Sahib still draws devotees of all faiths, reflecting the inclusive spirit of Rashmaal Soobun.
Batmaal Soobun: Honoring the Life-Giving Waters
In the bustling neighborhood of Batmalu in Srinagar, Batmaal Soobun honored the purity and life-sustaining power of water. Families cleaned and decorated their wells and natural springs with fresh flowers, oil lamps, and prayers. Women, dressed in vibrant pherans, sang wanwun—traditional songs—while drawing water, as children played around the wells.
Batmaal Soobun drew spiritual inspiration from Hazrat Sheikh Dawood Sahib (Batmol Sahib), whose teachings emphasized service to the poor and feeding the needy. His shrine in Batmaloo became a focal point for communal prayers and blessings during the festival. Historian accounts suggest that during times of famine in Srinagar, Batmol Sahib cooked food in large cauldrons to feed all who came, embodying the festival’s essence of sharing and caring for the community.
Misha Soobun: A Celebration of Brotherhood
In the vibrant and syncretic locality of Rainawari, Srinagar, Misha Soobun was a festival that transcended religious boundaries. Families gathered in temples, mosques, and Sufi shrines to offer prayers and share communal meals of tehar (yellow rice) and fish curries (taan). It was a day of spiritual unity and brotherhood, where Hindu and Muslim families sat side by side in celebration.
Ghulam Nabi, a longtime resident, recalls, “We didn’t just eat together—we shared our hearts. Neighbors who might argue on other days sat side by side, eating from the same pot. That’s what Misha Soobun meant to us.”
The Heart of Spring: Badamwari
These festivals coincided with the famous blossoming of Badamwari—Srinagar’s beloved almond garden. Families picnicked under the white and pink blooms, sipping noon chai and singing wanwun. Bashir Ahmed remembers the magic of those days: “The air smelled of almonds and hope. Children ran through the gardens while we recited tales of the saints who taught us to live with compassion.”
A Fading Legacy
As the decades passed, urbanization, shifting lifestyles, and the scars of conflict pushed these festivals to the margins of collective memory. Today, while Badamwari still draws crowds for selfies and leisure, the soulful songs of Rashmaal Soobun, the heartfelt prayers of Batmaal Soobun, and the communal feasts of Misha Soobun are remembered only by those who lived them.
Yet the shrines of Baba Hyder Reshi and Batmol Sahib still stand, silently witnessing the changing times and reminding Kashmiris of the values these festivals once embodied—unity, simplicity, and respect for nature and each other.
A Call for Revival
In an age of globalization and fast-paced living, reviving these spring festivals could reawaken Kashmir’s cultural soul and strengthen the bonds of community. These festivals are more than just customs—they are living lessons from saints and ancestors about how to find hope in blossoms, strength in brotherhood, and joy in the simple act of gathering together.
As Naseema Bhat of Anantnag poignantly says, “My grandmother would say that the flowers speak to the rivers and the rivers speak to God. Rashmaal Soobun was a day when we felt connected to everything around us.”
For those who remember, the festivals of Rashmaal Soobun, Batmaal Soobun, and Misha Soobun are not relics of the past—they are echoes of a Kashmir that found peace and purpose in the shared blessings of spring.
Nazia Qureshi, holds a Master’s degree in History and Sociology, along with a B.Ed qualification, can be reached at qureshi.nazia321@gmail.com.
