Farmer lifestyle in Gya village Ladakh 2020

Farming season in Gya (April-May 2020)

Farming season starts with the initiations of farming practices on the ( Ma Jhing , )fields of Gyapa Cho, who were the chieftains of Gya.

The initiation practices include prayers by monks for the animals who till the fields, the environment and the spirits that occupy the farmlands. A day called Saka is recognised by astrologers (Onpos) or monks , when the tilling of fields are started.

Members of different households work on each others fields in turns, until the seeds are sowed for the entire village. This is a long and tiring process, however, it is made joyful and fun, with all the song singing and communal feasts, with food and beverage. Working together with each other while singing songs, etc. is the symbol of harmony and closeness.

The farmers use organic manure and are producers of crops that sustain their families. Livestocks like horses, yak, cow, sheep, goat etc. are numerous in number here and they are looked after well by the villagers.

Migratory birds like ( House sparrow, Accentor, Citrine wagtail , Rosefinch , Eurasian Hoope , etc etc ) visit Gya during summers. They build their nests, have their babies and migrate back to warmer regions in winters. They are also heavily dependent on the fields for their food.

This beautiful interdependence of animals, birds and humans who live together, provides a wonderful balance of life. Farming is not just a practice to produce food, it is also an act of creating an ecosystem of interdependence among different sentient beings on this earth.

I hope you enjoy my video on farming in my village!

📸   / thupstan_dawa  

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