As you take the serene Shikara ride in the lakes of Kashmir in the summer, you are presented with the mesmerizing poetry of Lotus flowers floating beside you. Many ancient civilizations consider the flower sacred and spiritual. Fresh Lotus seeds also known in Kashmir as “Pummbuch” are encased in layers of delightful perfectly formed casings. A symmetrical geometric vision. Once you open the first layer and remove the pods, the white nuts are encased in another green covering. The raw nuts are delicious to eat. Some cuisines (Chinese, Japanese) also use the dry nuts and its paste but nothing like being on the lake….peeling and savoring each delicious piece as you listen to the gentle sounds of the paddle.

Here are the beautiful pictures I took over the summer….