17/02/2020
The crisp air swells with excitement as villagers, dressed proudly in their traditional clothes, arrive at the community clearing. They greet one another with affection, talking and teasing, before breaking away into groups as if pulled by invisible magnets.
Men, both young and old, inspect their bow and arrows while eying the mound of mud and ice that is to be their target. Women huddle around the fire, stirring pots and topping glasses of roasted barley wine while preparing for the day’s feast. Children run amok, playing games, dancing, and soaking in the sun.
Enchanting folk music begins to flow from the daman and the surna, filling the open spaces between the soaring mountains to mark the beginning of the festival. Arrows fly. The older men regale their younger counterparts with stories from the years past. Copious amounts of the local wine is consumed, and as the sun continues its journey westwards, the aims become less true.
Archery festivals, celebrated within many of its villages, are rooted in Ladakh’s history. While this land used to be inaccessible during the long winter months, it was vulnerable to attacks from outsiders in the summer. Hence, the warriors would come out in early spring to practice and perfect their archery skills.
Gradually, as bows and arrows ceased to be the weapons of choice, these gatherings transformed into community festivals where villagers coordinated the sowing of their fields and discussed the sharing of cattle while ploughing. This is why most archery festivals are held in early spring.
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