The mountains look clear now. A thin blanket of snow is still trapped on their top. When the rays of the sun touch the frizzy surface of the snow, it reflects back and blurs the vision.

The clouds have opened and stretched up their arms and are moving carelessly in different directions. Birds glide smoothly in the sky and their chirping sounds gives immense pleasure. A small thin layer of green, fleshy grass has evolved from the earth’s surface after bearing the torture of snow and rain. Nature seems to be in a recharging mode.

The environment looks cool and welcoming. Tulips of resplendent colours are blooming cheerfully. Almond trees, a symbol of love and beauty, are in full bloom too. Its small flowers are filled with a new zest that drives my imagination. It brings a new hope in my heart.

Spring in Kashmir is usually the season of blooms. The almond trees bloom in this phase, making the countryside appear more picturesque. Not only almond trees, the petite tulips also carry a message. They spread the message of love and peace. The fragrance of tulips invades the human soul and flows in the body as a natural scent.

A new life evolves through the withered bodies of the trees which were made hopeless and colourless by winter. A new thin layer of green fleshy coat covers the ground. One can see life renewing everywhere.

Bitter cold has also disappeared and now a cool and pleasant wind flutters only in the evenings.

People too have shed their winter coats and are moving out and about the countryside. Old people can be seen sitting and gossiping outside small wooden rundown shops of the town. Their wrinkled faces and scars left permanently on their skin, speak many things. They have countless stories of struggle to tell us, the youth. Some folks can also be seen in the orchards, returning to the hard work of cultivating the land.

Children too enjoy the arrival of spring in their own way. Every day comes with a different feeling of joy for them, especially when they leave their homes early in the morning, making their way to the nearby hill to raise their multi-coloured kites in the sky and watch it fluttering. The sky becomes as colourful as the landscape below.

Rivers and streams make their way from the dense forest to reach the plains. The sound produced by the waves after touching the rocky ground washes away the worries of daily life. The chirping of birds provides a pleasing chorus and green grass acts as a natural sofa to relax and watch the day go by.

The magic of spring in Kashmir is spellbinding.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 21st, 2018