Amidst mountain peaks, Letri’s rhythm plays,
Unity’s dance in the sun’s warm gaze.
Grass, like gold, binds hearts in shared grace,
In Pir Panjals shadows, festivities find its place.
Echoes resound across the valleys in the cool autumn air on the picturesque slopes of the Poonch-Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The beats of dhol, originating from a far-off hamlet, greeted me as I entered a small village. My curiosity aroused, so I asked a local colleague, Ramzan, about these musical echoes. His eyes gleamed with delight as he told me about Letri, a celebration that is deeply ingrained in rural culture.
He elaborated that Letri, a celebration of unity and sustenance, revolves around the golden grass that blankets the fields and mountainous slopes, akin to precious metal in these lands. With livelihoods dependent on the rearing of livestock, this festival holds paramount significance, marking the onset of a season of abundance. Ramzan, animated with fervour, regaled me with tales of collective effort and communal spirit that define Letri.
On the following Sunday, Ramzan led me to the household designated as hosts for the day’s festivities. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as we got closer, and I was engulfed by a brightly energetic scene. The fields were alive with activity, able-bodied men swinging sickles in time with the dhol’s throbbing rhythm. In the meantime, the host family’s women staged a culinary symphony, cooking delectable meals and fresly brewed tea to feed the workers.
Letri is not just about cutting grass; it’s also about the unity and friendship that permeate the entire celebration. Every home alternates in serving as hosts, encouraging a spirit of mutual assitance and camaraderie among neighbours. I was amazed at the deep lessons that were ingrained in this primordial custom as I watched the seamless cooperation between houses, generations, and genders.
The cooperative spirit that unites individual endeavours to attain group wealth is at the core of Letri. Here, differences dissolve beneath the common goal of sustenance, forging bonds that transcend the boundaries of kinship or creed. Through shared toil and shared meals, Letri encapsulates the essence of community living, reminding us of the inherent strength found in unity.
Letri furthermore provides a moving reminder of how intertwined humans and the environment are – the scythes and the wind are in symbiosis, the land and its caretakers working together harmoniously. With every stroke of the blade, appreciation for the gifts that Mother Nature has bestowed upon us is ingrained, a respect for the wealth of the Earth that surrounds us.
Letri’s fabric depicts a picture of rural life that is resilient and entrenched in tradition, with music and humour blending with the work of love. What genuinely nourishes the spirit goes beyond the harvest of grass; rather, it is the harvest of connections, camaraderie, and shared experiences. I left the village with a heart full of appreciation for the lessons I’ve learnt amid its beautiful fields as the sun sets on another Letri day.
Musings of a Wanderer 