Video: Tired of inclement weather, people organize `Saase Rasee’ to please God

SRINAGAR: Inclement weather has prompted Kashmiris to revive the age-old tradition of `Saase Rasee’, a community kitchen used to cook and distribute free food to please God.

Leading the charge are residents of Shahr-e-Khaas who organized `Saase Rasee’ at Khanyar. Taher, a Kashmiri yellow rice, was cooked in an open kitchen after prayers and distributed among the people. People prayed for improvement in the weather conditions in Kashmir.

“In olden times, people used to offer Nawafil to seek blessings from Almighty Allah. They were praying to God seeking his mercy whenever there used to be crisis. We are witnessing an inclement weather which has affected every sphere of life. Our farmers, orchardists, and other people have suffered a lot. Our crops have been damaged. So it is time to seek blessings from Almighty Allah,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a local at Khanyar.

Under this initiative, the people organized `Saase Rasee’ to feed the poor and hungry. “We cooked Taher to feed hungry people. Maybe Almighty Allah might be pleased with this initiative. We appeal to everyone to offer Nawafil to seek blessings from Almighty Allah,” he said.

Kashmir has recorded exceptionally high rainfall in May so far, making it one of the wettest months in the past decade.

Data released by Meteorological Department, Srinagar reveal the highest amount of rainfall was recorded in Kokernag (215 mm), followed by Poonch (203mm), Ramban (182mm), Pahalgam (176 mm), Gulmarg (148mm), Rajouri (140 mm), Kulgam (132mm), Ganderbal (100mm), Jammu (90mm), Srinagar (86mm), Shopian (70mm), Bandipora (70mm), Kupwara (65mm), Kishtwar (25mm) and Kathua (24mm).

Deputy Director, MET, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad while mentioning the seasonal rainfall scenario of May tweeted, “May 2023 was one of the wettest months in 10 years,” he wrote.

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a La Niña effect with erratic weather patterns becoming a new normal. La Niña is a complex weather pattern that impacts the global climate and disrupts normal weather patterns, which can lead to intense storms in some places and droughts in others.

“We should believe in spiritual connection. The fact of the matter is that we are facing an alarming situation both ecologically and economically. Apart from global warming, we are also witnessing global cooling. It is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Nadeen Qadri. J&K consultant, Earth Day Network (EDN).

Faizan Arif, Founder of the popular weather channel, ‘Kashmir Weather’, said due to the new weather pattern, crops are facing the brunt. “We have seen damage to orchards and paddy. Heavy hailstorms have occurred more than they used to,” he said.

(PHOTOS AND VIDEOS BY Umar Ganie)