Greetings from snow covered Kashmir valley!
Kashmiri folk tales beautifully intertwine celestial elements with human emotions and values, offering poetic explanations for natural phenomena. In The Legend of Himal and Nagrai, the sun (Aftaab), moon (Zoon), and wind (Hawa) are siblings born to a star. When the moon saves food for her mother but her brothers discard it, their mother reacts: the sun is cursed to burn with rage, the wind to remain restless, and the moon is blessed with a calming coolness.
This tale not only explains the nature of these cosmic elements but also reflects Kashmiri culture’s deep connection to the cosmos. As Onaiza Drabu writes, “folklore is a living, breathing entity,” preserving universal themes of compassion, morality, and human connection to the universe.
These stories bridge science and storytelling, showcasing how ancient Kashmiri culture viewed the stars, sun, and moon—not just as astronomical objects, but as entities full of life and meaning.