This market has been an integral part of the tradition and life of Kashmir for centuries.
Jagran correspondent, Srinagar. Time: 6:30 pm, Location: Floating Market of Dal Lake. Amidst the harsh cold of Chilekalan, most of the people are trying to protect themselves from the bone-chilling cold by hiding in thick woolen quilts in their homes. The view of the floating market situated in the middle of Dal Lake is completely opposite to this.
The market is completely live. There is noise everywhere. The employees working there are busy loading fresh vegetables into their trucks. Many are busy breaking the thick layer of ice on the lake water due to temperatures remaining below freezing point so that their boats laden with vegetables can float properly in the water.
Abdul Khaliq Batku is also trying to break the ice on the water with a wooden stick held in his hand. While breaking the ice, Batku feels numbness in his fingers, but he continues breaking the ice. Because we have to take our boat full of vegetables across the lake to the market. Batku, shivering from the cold, said, “Vegetables don't care how cold it is.
The rest of the market employees were also busy in delivering the vegetables to the markets.
It is important to deliver the vegetables to the shopkeepers. That too before 8 am. Therefore, we try to complete this work on time. Like Batku, the rest of the employees of this floating market of Dal are also making efforts to deliver the vegetables to the markets. Someone is loading vegetables into boats, someone is collecting these vegetables grown on the islands of the lake, while someone is also handling the work of bargaining there.
Be it summer or winter, the floating market is always bustling with activity before the sun rises. It is the endeavor of all the people working there to ensure that the fresh vegetables grown in the lake reach the customers early in the morning. This famous floating vegetable market of the valley is situated on Dal Lake. Where farmers like Batku sell their produce from traditional timber hunts, under conditions that close down most other markets in the world.
Floating market running on Dal for more than a winter
This market, which has been running on Dal Lake for more than a century, changes almost completely during the harsh winter. This picturesque sight that attracts tourists in the warmer months is transformed into a struggle against snow, frozen water and cold so severe that it can destroy an entire day's harvest in minutes.
By 6:45 am today, around two dozen shikara boats had reached the market place. The boats were loaded with fresh vegetables – cauliflower, radishes, turnips, leafy vegetables, potatoes, which were covered with tarpaulins and blankets to protect them from the bitter cold. During Chilekalan, the floating market focuses entirely on trading. Sell quickly, get home before you freeze to death.
Tahir Ahmed arrived on a big shikara just after 7 am to buy fresh vegetables for his three restaurants in Lal Chowk. Dense steam was coming out from his breath. “I want spinach, turnips and whatever green vegetables I can find,” Ahmed said as he made his way through the boats of vendors. These people have come to sell vegetables in this hell-like cold.
It is dangerous to spend even a moment in the cold
At least I can come and buy. A vendor picked up a bunch of radishes. Ahmed nodded. Money was exchanged, the fingers were so cold that they could not even count properly. Radish was loaded. The seller immediately covered the remaining vegetables again. It was dangerous to spend even a moment in the cold.
In summer, we talk and laugh while selling. But during winter season, we try to finish our work quickly and go home. Abdul Rashid says while arranging bundles of mustard greens in his shikara. Not every farmer sells. Javed Borcha is sitting quietly in his boat, despite the onset of dawn, his cauliflower has not been sold yet. Maybe I'll have to throw them in the lake.
The floating market runs extremely efficiently during Chilekalan
Javed, disappointed at the lack of sales, said, "Once they get spoiled by the cold, they become useless. It is better to return home empty handed than to bring back frozen vegetables." The floating market runs very efficiently during Chilekalan. The vegetables that survive the cold are sold. Those that do not survive are thrown away. The farmers who are able to break the ice and come inside earn some money. Those farmers who are unable to break the ice, remain sitting at home. They don't get anything. People think this market is about tradition," says Mushtaq Ahmed, who has been selling vegetables from his shikara for the last 34 years. "Tradition does not feed the family. These vegetables feed my family," said Mushtaq. "That's why I have been breaking ice in the cold of -10 degrees Celsius to add bread to my family and I have to do the same in the future to feed my family.
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