-Written by Rinchen Angmo

Spid is the closest possible translation of spring in Ladakhi, yet the aura that the word carries is markedly different. The word spring has this feeling of freshness. Yet when I think of the word for spring in Ladakhi, that is spid, it reminds me of the windy days in April and of course apricot blossoms. According to my Abile (granny) spid aligns with the first three months of our traditional calendar. Typically, spid is characterised by strong winds known as spid lungs or spring winds. Hence, the Ladakhi image of spring is quite different from the one that is conjured by the English word. 

Apricot blossoms are probably the best part of spring in Ladakh. Unbeknownst to the mind, suddenly amidst the high mountains one will spot a freshly bloomed apricot tree gleaming in the landscape of a windy trans-Himalayan desert; or maybe I’m romanticising this a bit too much. Yet there’s really something so beautiful about soft pink apricot flowers against the backdrop of high mountains. It’s a testament to how beauty is found in contrasts. 

But there’s obviously more to apricot blossoms than their beauty; the fruits that later grow in August have been an integral part of commerce and dietary habits from time immemorial. 

In addition to this, spid in Ladakh is also a time when the grocery stores run out their winter stock and struggle to replenish new stock due to the blocked roads.

So spid is perhaps also characterised by resilience. The resilience of the apricot flowers that stand tall despite the harsh winds. Flowers that have smaller petals, as nature’s way to ensure that they can withstand the climatic conditions. Flowers that seem so delicate and yet remain unperturbed by the winds and harsh weather.