Bandipora, Nov 19: For the first time in 20 years, Wular Lake in North Kashmir’s Bandipora District has seen a resurgence of “Nadru” (lotus stems), a prized delicacy cherished in Kashmiri households.
A Fisherman from Saderkote Payeen told Rising Kashmir that the seeds had disappeared, long before the devastating floods of 2014, which wiped out “Nadru” in other water bodies across Kashmir.
“The seeds had been lost nearly 20 years ago, leaving Wular Lake barren of this precious crop,” he said.
The return of the crop has brought joy and renewed livelihoods to hundreds of families in Bandipora and its adjoining areas. Growers and traders are seeing good earnings as demand for the delicacy remains high across Kashmir.
“A bundle of Nadru sells for ₹200 to ₹300 in the market, sometimes even more during festivals,” said Abdul Majeed, lotus stems seller from Saderkote Payeen. “The quality of Wular’s Nadru is unique, and people have been waiting for its return.”
He said that the crop revived due to the ongoing dredging and desilting operations going on under the Wular Lake Conservation and Management Project, which have improved the ecological health of the lake and restored conditions for it to grow naturally.
“Revival of the crop in Wular has been no less than a miracle. This year, I harvested “Nadru” from this lake for the first time in my life,” said another local, Ghulam Ahmad.
He said the revival of this crop in a lake once considered unproductive has finally yielded results this year.
Lotus stems, deeply woven into Kashmiri cuisine, are used in traditional dishes like Nadru Yakhni (lotus stem cooked in spiced yogurt) and Nadru Monji (fried lotus stem fritters). The revival of the crop in Wular has reignited the cultural connection of the locals with their cuisine.
“During festivals like Eid and Navroz, the sale of Nadru bundles often doubles,” said Mohammad Younis, another grower.
Younis said that while the restoration of Lotus Stems (Nadru) is a milestone, Pollution and encroachment continue to threaten the long-term health of Wular Lake.
“The desilting and dredging efforts must continue, or we risk losing everything again,” he added.
