Glacier Marriage — an armature short film on the tradition of glacier grafting

Glacier grafting, is an indigenous practice carried out in the Hindu Kush and Himalaya regions, which aims to create new glaciers to help the depleting water supply of the area due to climate change. The practice has been there for at least a hundred years. According to folk lore it is said that this was also done in the mountain passes to block the advance of Genghis Khan’s armies.

The mechanism is to graft these glaciers at high altitudes during the winters with the hope that there is enough water for local agriculture in the summer due to the resulting meltwater. There is a whole tradition around the grafting process. A selected group of men take on the journey, some carrying what is deemed as the female ice and other male ice. During this journey they keep the conversation to the minimum. Once they reach the ideal spot, they place the blocks of ice, pour ice water that was carried in local earthen pots, spread wheat husk, salt and charcoal to aid absorption and cover everything with soil.

Our documentary film tiltled “Glacier Marriage” from Gilgit-Baltistan triumphed the third position in the National Amateur Short Film Festival organized by ISPR. Our film won the third position among the professional filmmakers across the country.#MayaroFilms pic.twitter.com/qBwWaP6MN6

- SaKelain 🇵🇸 (@Saqlainglt) June 26, 2021

Given the scale of climate change and the need to come up with practical solution pronto, scientists are exploring these traditional practices and how they work to add and enhance the pool of things that can be done to save our planet and ourselves. Glacier grafting is one such practice that is being researched.

Mayaro Films, short film, Glacier Marriage — Keeping hope alive, covers the story of Murko, a small village close to Miachar Valley in district Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan. The locals used glacier water for their daily use and agriculture. The soil of this village is said to be more fertile than any other in the area. Ten years ago, a severe famine hit resulting in mass migration of the population. Despite the grim situation, the locals are hoping to use the traditional practice of glacier grafting to re-irrigate this area and return its old life.

You can watch the full film here.

Originally published at https://pk.mashable.com on July 8, 2021.