Bone chilling Chilai Kalan period starts in Kashmir panING out in three stages starting with the 40-day harsh period of Chillai Kalan followed by Chillai Khurd and then Chille Bache in the end
The 40-day harsh period of Chillai Kalan which brings most of the snowfall and sub-zero temperatures during the season followed by 20 more days which are less intense (called Chillai Khurd) and then 10 days of mild cold (Chille Bache) in the end, sets in.
Chillai Kalan is the local name given to 40 days period of harsh winter in Kashmir. It is the coldest part of winter, starting from 21 Dec to Jan 29 every year. Actually it is a Persian term which means “major cold”. Chillai Kalan is followed by a 20-day long Chillai Khurd (small cold) that occurs between Jan 31 and Feb 19 and a 10-day long Chillai Bache (baby cold) which is from Feb 20 to March 2.
Interestingly according to Persian tradition night of 21st Dec is celebrated as Shab-e-Yalda “Night of birth” or Shab-e- Chellah “Night of Forty” which marks the beginning of the first 40 days of winter. The Iranian concept also survives in Kashmir, where Chillai Kalan designates the 40-day harshest winter period.
During Chillai Kalan, the weather in Kashmir valley continues mostly dry and cold with minimum temperatures hovering below the freezing point. The chances of snowfall are sometimes most frequent and maximum in Chillai Kalan. The snow during the 40-day period freezes and lasts longer. It is this snow that adds to the glaciers of the valley and replenishes the perennial reservoirs that feed the rivers, streams and lakes in Kashmir during the months of Summer. Any snowfall after the Chillai Kalan does not last long. It mostly remain overcast during this period and even if the sun breaks loose of the cloud cover, it is feeble and helpless against the bone chilling power of Chillai Kalan.
In the past, many families would prepare “Shebdeg” on the 1st day of Chillai Kalan. A fat duck would be cooked with turnips and spices in an earthen vessel during the night intervening Dec 20-21.
Chillai Kalan affects the daily life of kashmiris. Use of Pheran (Kashmiri dress) and a traditional fire pot called ‘Kanger’ increases. Due to sub zero temperature, tap water pipelines freeze partially during this period and world famous Dal Lake also freezes. Famous tourist resorts like Sonamarg and Gulmarg receive heavy snow.
Celebrating Chillai Kalan with sumptuous Harisa is a quintessential part of Kashmiri tradition. The first day of Chillai Kalan was celebrated as “World Pheran Day” the other day.
In order to promote “winter Kashmir” tourists are offered a slice of its world class snow meadows sports, cuisine and culture- in short, a Switzerland- like experience at an affordable cost.
The government also organizes National Winter Games in Kashmir at the famous Gulmarg ski-resort and in trying to persuade Federation of International Skiing (FIS) to host the International Ski Championship here. Thousands of tourists visit Gulmarg every year and it is assured a must-visit winter destination.
Snow festival is also organized in Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Students from cities such as Mumbai & Delhi are invited to join the winter camp, there instead of heading off to Switzerland. Pertinently tourism sector has the potential to become a fulcrum around which state’s economy can rebound in a big way.
Kashmiris welcome Chillai Kalan with cool pictures, posing with icicles and taking selfies in pherans, brace bravely for the hardest period of winter.
Formation of very long icicles from water dripping from a hillock, roofs of houses, thatches is a wonderful experience during Chillai Kalan, which are many times taller than humans, as big as 15 metres (45 ft) long. The sight of hundereds of icicles is a wonderful experience. The best time to watch them is early in the morning or late in the evening and they require around minus seven degree celcius for formation.
Lack of facilities makes Chillai Kalan a dull period. Snow clearance of roads, lanes, by lanes is not done fast, resulting in huge miseries and sufferings for the people living in Kashmir. Shortage of electricity supply, fuel, kerosene oil add to the pain of people living below poverty line.
Non availability of essentials during Chillai Kalan like ration, vegetables & other food grains needs to be tackled by the government with strict adherence to the laws enforced from time to time. Besides health facilities in nook and corner of valley needs to be upgraded particularly during Chillai Kalan period- health facility at door step should be ensured. In case, government would extend all these facilities to the common masses particularly down-trodden and poor people, it would be a blessing in real sense for all of us. Since, the deserving lot has been experiencing lots of difficulties during winters, unfortunately it proves to be a curse for them.
The minimum temperature in Kashmir stayed several degrees below the freezing point as the valley braces for ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period.The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir — recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, down from the previous night’s minus 3.7 degree Celsius, the officials said. Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius, they said.
The famous ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said. Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4 degree Celsius, Kokernag town saw the minimum settle at minus 3.3 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a low of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.
The weather office has forecast generally dry weather over the next few days in Kashmir as the minimum temperature is expected to dip further. The drop in temperature has resulted in freezing of many slow moving water bodies. It has also resulted in freezing of water supply pipes in some areas. With electricity supply erratic in many areas of Kashmir, people have resorted to use of ‘kangri’, an earthen firepot, to beat the chill.
The drop in temperature has resulted in an increase in respiratory problems among the children and elderly. The ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ is the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley.
The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas, especially the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. While ‘Chillai-Kalan’ begins on December 21 , it will end on January 31. The cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
