New Delhi: Intense cold has gripped Kashmir as Chillai Kalan, the 40-day period of harshest winter, began in the region on December 21, 2024. According to the meteorological department, Srinagar experienced its coldest December night in five decades on December 21 at minus 8.5 degrees Celsius. Also, in other parts of the Valley, the minimum temperatures have dropped several notches below the freezing point.
It was the coldest December night Srinagar had witnessed since 1974 when it recorded a low of minus 10.3 degrees Celsius, and the third coldest since 1891. Due to the intense cold, several water bodies including parts of the famous Dal Lake and water supply lines in many areas in the Valley have frozen.
Understanding Chillai Kalan: Dates, Duration, and Significance
Kashmir, during winter, is covered with perpetual grey skies and experiences piercing cold. During winter, the local people have to endure extremely harsh conditions. The period of Chillai Kalan is famous in Kashmir, when almost everything remains frozen there and the place looks surreal.
Winter in Kashmir lasts for three months and is divided into three parts: The Chillai Kalan, the Chillai Khurd, and the Challai Bache. The name Chillai Kalan is a Persian word which means “major cold”. The duration of Chillai Kalan is 40 days and during that time in winter, Kashmir witnesses severe cold wave. It is the coldest part of winter in Kashmir and starts from December 21 and lasts till January 31 every year. Prominent water bodies like Dal Lake and the Valley’s water supply lines get frozen during that time and Kashmir receives heavy snowfall.
The sky remains mostly overcast during this period and even if the sun appears, it cannot counter the bone-chilling winter. After Chillai Kalan, Kashmir experiences Chillai Khurd (small cold) for 20 days between January 31 and February 19 and then the Chillai Bachha (baby cold) which lasts for 10 days between February 20 and March 2.
The condition of the local people during Chillai Kalan
Local people celebrate Pheran Day on the first day of Chillai Kalan. Pheran is a loose woollen robe that locals wear against the biting cold. Many people use Kangri, a traditional earthen firepot to keep away the cold. Also, locals make ‘harissa’, a dish of boiled, cracked, or coarsely-ground cracked wheat or bulgur, mixed with meat during this time.
During Chillai Kalan, even the day temperatures in Kashmir remain in single digits. Overall, the minimum temperatures in Kashmir hover below the freezing point. During this period, the snow that falls freezes and lasts longer, later replenishing the perennial reservoirs that feed the rivers, streams and lakes in Kashmir during summer. The life of the local people in Kashmir are greatly affected during this period, as they cover their windows with plastic to thwart the cold air. Several people gather in rooms with limestone floors as firewood is burnt in a hearth. People also stay at mosques after prayers and get a warm backdrop due to the hamams to socialise.
Chillai Kalan, a 40-day period of intense cold in Kashmir, begins on December 21 and lasts until January 31. This harsh winter, the coldest part of the year, sees temperatures plummet below freezing, causing Dal Lake to partially freeze and impacting daily life. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
