It is when summer sets in and the Autumn begins by fading all the greenry. Multi-colored flowers begin falling from the chinar leaves, sounding an alarm to the people of Kashmir to get ready to face the cold chilly winds. Spring and summer period is over and winter is coming with long nights and shorter daytime. It is during this time period that we see the blossoming of a new flower on the different karewas of Kashmir. People wait eagerly for this new but differanr flowery garden which also is the main source of their earnings from time immemorial. This is called KONG in kashmir and if botanically speaking it has been derived from the family of crocus and scientifically it is called crocussatrus a flower which has social, religious, economic as well as medicinal properties. That is why it is in great demand throughout the world and apart from Kashmir it is being cultivated in many parts as on experimental basis. Cultivation of this pious natural flower has mythical as well as historical background. That is why apart from other names given to this holy land, Kashmir is also known as KESAR VATICA - the land of kumkum. It is no less important than a goldmine for Kashmiris who cultivate it and trade in it.
This flower is called 'Kumkum' in Sanskrit. In HindiI it is called 'Kesar' and in kashmiri 'kong'. The cultivation of this flower has an ancient past. First of all we come to the legend.
For example it has been mentioned that there was a physicion who resided at Padampur or present Pampore, a city which is 12 Kilometres away from Srinagar. A NAGA OR WATER DEMON came to him for cure of his eyes which had lost sight. Naga could not get any relief despite applying medicines. This astonished physicion. Actually the fact was that the effect of medicine was neutralized by the poisonous vapours issuing from Nagas mouth. The physicion then wrapped a cloth on the nagas eyes and he got cured. Out of gratitude he presented a seed or bulb of kumkum to the physician There after Kumkum cultivation came to fore in pampore. In this way Kumkum cultivation has five thousand year of long history behind.
In RAJTARANGNI Kalhan pandit says that a Naga Takhshaka by name offered a bulb of kumkum to one of the Ministers of King Lalitaditya of 7th century and since then its cultivation started in pampore But at the same time kalhan rectify his statemrnt by saying that Kashmir has always remained the land of kumkum which is no less a new of what we find in Nilmatpurana. The only difference is that the later is the masterpiece of 7th century while as Rajtarangini has been written in 12th century. If we go far behind there is a clear mention of Kumkum in 'Shrimad Bagvata' where the queens of Lord Krishna and other beautiful ladies of Dwarika smeared their bodies with kumkum powder .It is also said here that after the end of Mahabharta battle the kings of the Himalayan range gifted Yudishtara the bulb kumkum. Kashmir is part of Himalayan range and cultivation of kumkum is done only in kashmir which gives fillip to the fact that this flower is the produce of ontly kashmir The mention of kumkum is found in Kalidasas Mudrarakhas the masterpiece 5th century and in 6th century Harshvardan has also written about it in his poetic collection Ratnavali. According to chineese traveler HIuntsang credit goes to Bodh Arhata Madhyataka who started the cultivation of kumkum in Kashmir. He bought bulbs of kumkum from Gandmaidan. According to him the people of Kashmir were putting garlands of kumkum flower in their neck in Autumn Bhuddists do use kumkum flowers in puja. It is said that Madayantaka had come here in 4th century or in the reign of Ajatshatru with so many Bhuddist Arhat and after that he did not went back. A book written in Sanskrit on bhuddist thought much brfore the coming of Hiun Tsang here, also gives the mention of kumkum culivation here. The name of the book ‘Mahesanlat’ has been translated into chineese in 618AD. Kumkum has been recorded here as ‘Kong-monika’ by name and the writer of this book has been named Kongmonimoni who is said of kashmiri origin. Some scholars are of the view that ‘Kong’ has been derived from the word ‘Kesar’ which is purely of Hindi.But I do not agree with it. I feel that the word ‘Kong’ is much nearer to chineese ’Koong’ and it is possible that this word is being used by Kashmiris without change.
How far this is true that the cultivation of kumkum has started from the time of great Bhuddist preacher is still debatable. But it is true that Madhyanka had come to Kashmir which has been recorded by Tarnath in his masterpiece ’History of Bhuddist Religion’ and if we see from the mirror of this book, it becomes clear that the cultivation of kumkum has started from time-immemorial. It is also due to the fact that kashmir is being called ‘kashmir ja’ Also.kumkum is in use for centuriesby.Hindus and they put it on their forehead in paste as Tika symbolizing that God is one.Apart from these, it has some herbal qualities and is being used in some medicines. Delicious dishes are also prepared by it’s flavour like Pullov which is being taken in Iran and Spain also.In western countries, kumkum is being used in every eatables. In Arabic, it has been derived from ’Azfareen’ which means yellow. Due to it’s merits, it has been cultivated by Arabs in Spain. It disappeared in western Europe but was re-introduced by crusaders. According to Hakhavi, it was specially cultivated near Huston in Cambridgeshire and in Essex. Kumkum was called Creskas there.In Greek, places of importance like Courts and theatres were washed with the water of kumkum just for fragrance. The people of Rome were keeping bunch of kumkum flowers in their bathrooms just for smell. When Rajkumar Neru entered in the city of Rome, the lanes and by-lanes of this city were cleared for good smell with kumkum by the people.It is said that Arabs began to cultivate it in 9th century. It was cultivated in Waldon. Some scholaes say that credit goes to a tourist of Tripoli who had taken a bulb of Kumkum in his hollow stick and cultivated there. Some scholars are of the opinion that it’s cultivation started there after the crucification of Christ. Whatever is the fact, kumkum has been widely cultivated in these countries from time-immemorial.
It is a common feeling of intellectuals that the main land of kumkum is Kochek where it’s cultivation started in Kargoz and it is the same place where from it’s bulbs reached to north and southern countries.If this is true then this is not the flower of kashmir and Bodh Arhatta Madyanka also gives same impression by saying that kumkum is not the flower of kashmir but it’s bulbs have been bought from outside kashmir. But it is not true. According to main Arabic scripture which has come into fore in 8th century,kumkum is the main flower of India which gives us clear impression that all the countries were aware of the land of Kashmir because this is the only land in India where kumkum is being cultivated though the research for it’s cultivation in other parts is on but no success has been achieved by the experts so far. Yes, cultivation of kumkum is carried in one of the districts of Jammu which is called Kishtwar on a very lower scale but we find difference in colour than the flower found in kashmir.The flower found here is extremely reddish in colour and has a little smell as compared with the flower found in the valley. But this is not a new experiment. Kumkum has been cultivated here centuries before. Traditionly, it is grown in the areas around Pampore. Actually, it is best grown in karewas around Wastruwan and Zewan. The whole area was once called Pargana ‘Vihi’.The three karewas best known in kashmir are ‘Sambur; ‘Wattan’ and ‘Lettapur’.These are it’s traditional cultivation points here while as it’s cultivation has spread to other areas here at this time.
The fields of kumkum which are considered the symbol of the prosperity of our villagers who have seen poverty in the time of different rulers. Nothing can be said of Hindu period, but in Sultan and Moughal period,these fields remained totally under their control.Kumkum cultivation was done under force by villagers without giving them due share. Yes, they were given some salt in return of their bounded labour which was not freely available in the marker.But at the time of Chaks,bounded labour was stopped and was ordered by the king that five kilos of kumkum be given to villagers as remuneration per family. But Sultans used the flower purely for their own use especially for those who were living in their Durbars.For example,queens were rubbing this flower on their cheeksto get these golden color.It was also used by them in winter for massaging the body because of it’s lovely fragrance,stimulation and healing qualities.It was also to give color to the cooked rice.Moughal cusience used it extensively. They get the aroma of kumkum and flavoured the foods especially Pullov and Biryanis. Zaifrani kahwa or black tea with kumkum has become famous in in India in Moughal rule which is still being used by the affluent class of people at this time.Moughals stopped the practice of bounded labour of choosing the flowers of Kumkum but this practice started again. When Shahjahan heard about it,he at once issued the royal order of prohibiting bounded labour once for all by saying that kumkum gardens are the treasure of govt and the labourers labouring in in it should get their due share. he also gave option to them that if they want to cultivate these of their own, they can do it without any intervention of the govt. This shows that in those days, cultivation of kumkum was done in those fields also which were of villagers and the cultivation was not limited to pampore only.In Pathan rule, kumkum fields were given on contract basis to villagers and then the revenue was deposited in govt treasuries. This was the same time when contractors were applying labourers for it’s cultivation. This contractual process continued even upto Sikh and Dogra rule.Kumkum is the main source of income to the present govt.But that was also the time when due to the famine,people took the bulbs of kumkum and when the time of cultivation came, these were taken from kishtawar.In 1950 ,when the mastery to peasants of their land were issued, exploitation ended automatically and they began to cultivate it anywhere according to their choice.This process was on even before and according to Abul Fazal, kumkum was cultivated one kilometer away from Anderkoot which clears the fact that Pampore was not the only place of Kumkum cultivation in kashmir. Miansing experimented to cultivate kumkum in Mattan and Domodar karewas. But his experiment remained unsuccessful. Now-a-days, due to new research, things have changed. We see the flowers of kumkum on the pleatue of Nowgam which provides a beautiful visual look.
It is due to the political circumstances that we have found the low yield of kumkum flowers so many times .It is stated in Akbarnama that one bulb of kumkum only yielded three flowers and the average yield was 25000 mds.In Mirza Haider Daughlat’s time,the yield was 35000mds and in 1515AD, when the cultivation of kumkum flowers was taken in hand by govt itself,the yield was 11220mds.
According to Abul Fazal,the bulbs of kumkum are like the bulbs of Thom and these are being sown in April. It is after years these take roots and in September, every year we see kumkum flowers on these bulbs.The plant of kumkum remains four feet above ground level but it’s length depends on the fertility of soil. In Moughal rule also,the bulbs would have been sown in April but now-a-days, this process has altogether changed. Bulbs are being sown in July-August systematically in an quadrangle piece of land which is called in kashmiri. Kong-vor which remains eight feet in length and seven feet in width.The land has to be puluvised and for it sixteen ploughings are considered sufficient. Then the bulb is sown and covered with soil. Small rectangular plots are also made to facialitate the drainage of rain water which accumulate in the field and harm the bulb in the long run. These plots are called ‘Vanj’ in Kashmiri. This soil has a natural moisture and till plant appears ln September-October, the season when Autumn begins in kashmir and fading leaves of trees especially Chinar begins to fell down giving the ground a shape of of beautiful multi-coloured carpet. At present the length of kumkum plant remains six inches at the most but variations have been found due to the quality of the soil. Flower comes with six petals and six stemns. Out of the six petals three have a fresh lilac colour and stand around the remaining three petals.The stems are placed likewise. Only the red stems surrounded by yellow ones yield the fresh kumkum. In this way Kumkum plant continues to yield flowers continuosly for six years. During first two years the yield is less but the in later years, the plant catches roots and the yield is substancial. After six years the seeds or bulbs are necessarily taken out from the soil and planted in a new Karewa and the original Karewa where it has taken place for six years may be left follow to recover it’s fertility for some years. This is a continued process till date.
Kumkum is a furry flower and when it’s fields are in full bloom, we find the atmosphere of fragrance everywhere but those who remain engaged in choosing kumkum petals do not feel it. According to Moughal King Jahangir, when he went to have a look of Kumkum fields with his courtiers, everybody felt headache. Process of counting of flowers is also interesting. It is after counting, the flowers are kept under sunshine sothat it’s moisture may end, Then the petals are kept away from the flower.These petals are brown in color but some part of these is white in color. These are called ‘Tunuj’ in kashmiri.The red part of it is called. Shahi- Zafran but it’s white part is also called kumkum,low category than the first. Shahi-Zafran is considered one of the highest category while the white one of second category. After cutting the petals or real Kumkum, flowers are again kept under sunshine for some days to avoid moisture and then these are pierced. After that the flowers are kept in a bowl of water and in this way those flowers which remain on the bottom are called ‘zara gul’ in kashmiri. These are being kept out and dried under sunshine. This is being done three times. Shahi-Zafron is also called ‘Miger’ in Kashmiri and the second category kumkumas ‘Pat’. It is also important to know about the produce of kumkum which we get from it’s fields. Those who cultivate fifty kyaris of kumkum are called ‘Path’. One path yields two and half kilograms of kumkum in a year and in second year this goes up to four kilograms and in the third year nine kilograms, When the fields are not fully looked into and the arrangement of killing the rats are not in order then the produce declines.
Kumkum has multifarious uses and has become a universal crop in Asia. It is used as an ingradiant in many complicated medicines even at this time. But it is unfortunate that kumkum cultivation is a dying crop in Asia due to various diseases. The area under it’s cultivation is fast being converted to commercial use. Efforts are needed to revive this heritage crop of Kashmir for which it has been called kumkum-Desh from time-immemorial.
Autar Kridhan Razdan