2010 Barley Harvest in Spiti

The main crops grown in Spiti are barley, peas and apples. Barley is a traditional Spitian crop used to make Tsampa. There are seven types of Tsampa: Chhumdon, Jenpey, Sra-jolma, Phiyan-pang, Sran-be, Tsoe-we and Zar-we, though only three or four of these are still commonly used in Spiti.

After the barley ripens the harvest begins mid-August. It starts first in the lower parts of Spiti, at Tabo, Poh, and Mane, then moves to higher elevations, Kaza, Rangrik, and the rest of Spiti. There should be no rain before or during the harvest so the barley can be dry when cut.

Traditional methods are still used to harvest and process the crop. After the barley is cut it is brought to a location where it is threshed using donkeys and horses to separate the edible grain from the remainder (chaff, stem, leaves) of the plant.

Threshing with donkeys and a horse at Mudh, Pin Valley.

There is a very beautiful Bhoti inviting song to the horses and donkeys that help with the threshing. While it is sung they are shown special respect. It goes:

MAMA OD KI GYALBO DEN LA PHEO

DEN LA PHEO

HOLO ZA HOLO ZA - HOLO ZA

HOLO ZHIB NA GA JUNG DULNA GA - DULNA GA

ZHIBO MIDUG THOLO LO - THOLO LO….

Once the barley is threshed, the remainder is removed, leaving the grain which can then be easily gathered. The remainder is bundled up and stored for animal feed and other uses.

Separating the remainder of the barley plant from the grains after threshing at Chichem Village.

Carrying the bundled remainder of the barley plants to storage at Kyomo village.

The bundled remainder of the barley carried away from the threshing pile at Kyomo village.