In the southwest, the busy work of tappers (gachhis) cutting date palms heralds winter. In date palm groves and fields, final preparations for collecting sap are under way. Within days, winter will arrive, and with it the season of sap and jaggery.

Winter has not yet come, but nature says it is near: the sun slants and its heat is fading. In Jashore, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah and other southwestern districts, date palms are being dressed by tappers' hands. This one season belongs to them.

At Garabaria in Chuadanga, several local tappers said they have done this work for 13 to 20 years and took it up as a family occupation.

Cutting the tree is full of craft and skill. Cutting away branches to expose the white heart of the tree takes technique, patience and waiting. One tapper said the cut must dry for about fifteen days, or the sap will be cloudy. He showed two types of dao (knife), used for cutting hard wood and for shaving.

The land and trees belong to the owner all year, but for a few months in winter the date palms become the tappers', under an agreement with local people. A tapper said the owner sells the top of the tree for 120 to 130 taka a season; from Kartik to Chaitra it is his time, and the owner does not claim the patali and jaggery he makes.

Villagers say trees are declining and so are tappers. One said the work is very hard and does not pay well, so people are leaving it. Another said he once had more than 200 trees but cut many down because he could not climb them himself and could not find a tapper. Still, some believe the tradition will not end: one said his son taps trees, and his son's son will too.

Source: Shykh Seraj, Hridoye Mati O Manush. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.