by Shoaib Nazir Follow Us On G -N e w s | Whatsapp

SRINAGAR : As October’s autumn settles over the misty slopes of Harwan and Shalimar in Srinagar, the annual chestnut ( panjaeb gaer ) harvest begins. The spiny fruit of tall chestnut trees represents more than a seasonal snack, it is a source of income, tradition, and nutrition for many families.

The introduction of chest nuts to Kashmir is attributed to Mohammad Rehman Afandi, a classmate of Maharaja Hari Singh at Oxford University. The harvest, however, remains labour-intensive. Men climb the tall trees, striking branches with long wooden sticks to bring down the nuts, while others collect them in baskets and sacks below.

“The trees are high and climbing in these towering, but we have no choice other than

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