New Delhi: Manav Kaul’s film Baramulla has been making waves ever since its release. Set in the breathtaking, snow-clad landscape of Kashmir, the film has been widely acclaimed for its wonderful blend of psychological depth and political subtext.
While the film offers many hair-raising moments, one particular scene has left the audience deeply intrigued. Every night, the caretaker, Iqbal, takes a plate of rice and fish to a locked room on the top floor of the house.
This simple gesture, it turns out, is rooted in an age-old Kashmiri tradition.
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In the film, Gulnar (played by actress Bhasha Sumbli), who has recently moved into the house, talks to Iqbal about this nightly ritual. Excited but curious, she asks, “Who is this plate for?”
Unable to speak, Iqbal silently gestures up and around the house. Gulnar soon discovers that this mysterious offering is part of a local ritual, connected to the invisible and ancestral, filled with faith and fear.
A momentary glimpse of this unique tradition can be seen in the film #BaramullaHowever, many non-Kashmiris may not fully understand its cultural and spiritual significance.
Gaad Batte is a winter ritual celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits, a sacred festival dedicated to home… https://t.co/yiimTpjOeN– decodingmyroots.com – Nityakarma Sarvopari (@MonaADhar) 9 November 2025
At the end of the film it is finally realized that the house where the Sayyid family lives once belonged to a Kashmiri Pandit family, the Sapras, who were killed by terrorists during the insurgency in the early 1990s.
This ritual of serving fish and rice in a plate is called Gaad Batt.
What is Gad Bat? Kashmiri ritual depicted in Baramulla
In Kashmiri, Gad means fish and Bat means rice. Gaad Batt is a winter ritual celebrated by the Kashmiri Pandit community, usually performed towards the end of the year, often during the cool nights of December.
The ritual is more than a meal, it is a symbolic act of remembrance and reverence. Offerings of rice and fish are made in honor of the guardian of the household, known locally as the house deity (also known as Gar Devta). This faceless, nameless deity is believed to protect the home and its inhabitants.
According to the belief of Kashmiri Pandits, the house deity can appear in any living form – a cat, a crow or a gust of wind. The ritual of Gad Batt serves as an expression of gratitude and a prayer for protection during the harsh winter months.
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How is Gad Bat performed?
Traditionally, a plate of cooked rice and fish is placed on the terrace, called kaini in Kashmiri, along with a glass of water and a small lamp covered with a sieve. Families living in apartments often perform rituals on their balconies.
Preparations started from noon. The kitchen is thoroughly cleaned before cooking sacred food. Every member of the household takes a bath before participating in the ritual. The fish used for Gaad Batt is usually Rohu, a freshwater fish commonly found in the Kashmir Valley.
Once the meal is prepared, a clean white sheet is spread on the floor, and rice and fish are served in a plate to each member of the family. A brief puja is performed invoking the house deity to accept the offerings. Each resident then bows respectfully before the plate before proceeding to eat their meal.
next morning
The next day the plate kept on the roof is recovered. If the food appears broken or scattered, it is considered as a sign that the house deity has accepted the offering. The remaining food is then given to the birds.
The rice and fish prepared for Gad Butt are solely for the residents of the house – including pets and are not shared with outsiders.
When is Gad fight celebrated?
This ritual is not performed randomly, but on specific muhurtas (auspicious dates) listed in the Zaanthari, the Kashmiri almanac, a traditional calendar that marks the annual religious rituals of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
At its core, Gad Batt is a ritual of faith, warmth and togetherness – a moment for families to unite during the coldest time of the year and express gratitude to the invisible savior who looks after their home.