People in the Kashmir valley are finding unique ways to celebrate the start of ‘chillai kalan’, a local term for the
40-day period of harshest winter that begins annually from December 21.
As the 40-day harshest winter period’ Chillai-Kalan’ begins from today, ‘Chillai-Kalan’ has its own history of more than 1000 years and people of Kashmir would traditionally welcome the season and stay inside their homes during the same period.As Islam spread in the Valley, the Muslim preachers from Iran started calling this 40-day harsh winter period as ‘Chillai Kalan’ instead of ‘Sishshar Mass’—the term earlier used by Buddhists.In the Persian tradition, the night of December 21, the longest of the year, is celebrated as ‘Shab-e-Yalda’ (night of birth) or ‘Shab-e-Chelleh’.
Kashmir had a deep influence of Iran, it is also called ‘Iran of Asia’ (Iran-i-Sageer) as the valley had a close connection both traditionally and religiously with the middle-eastern country.Chillai Kalan’ is a Persian term in which ‘Chilla’ means 40 days and ‘Kalan’ means bigger.In the past, people used to prepare in late summer months for harsh winters in advance to remain self-sufficient. There was a special space called ‘Wagga’ in every house for drying vegetables, fishes, and pulses in the sunshine.
Historians said in the old city most people were artisans and would often stay inside homes during the period, while in villages’ people were rearing sheep, weaving carpets, preparing mates and doing other works.
People would celebrate this season as they were mostly self-sufficient and were not dependent on anyone like the present society. There were fewer infections, diseases as people would often eat as per the weather conditions.People in Srinagar would often visit Harissa shops, Hamams and during nights poets would often narrate their poems in closed rooms. Tea and Kehwa were served in these small parties.There were only four Harsisa shops famous in Srinagar. In the old city, it was in Aali Kadal, Saraf Kadal, and Fateh Kadal, while in the upper city it was in Saribal were the delicacy would be relished.
The architecture of houses back then was much more suitable to face the harsh winter period. “Kangri ( firepot) and Hamaams were the main sources of warmth during the winters. People in the upper reaches would burn the firewood in their mud huts.
Now the situation has changed and modern gadgets have replaced traditional Kangri and other heating systems. History of Chillai Kalan has now remained a folk tale for our new generation.
Chillai Kalan is the local name given to intense cold waves in Kashmir and Ladakh region, it consists of three months. It is divided into three parts called the Chilas:-
Chillai Kalan
Chillai Khurd
Challai Bache
Chillai-Kalan is the 40-day period of harsh winter. Chillai-Kalan begins from December 21 and ends on January 31 next year. Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 2.
Impacts- Affects daily life of people, use of Pheran (Kashmiri Dress) and a traditional firing pot called Kanger increases, world- famous Dal Lake also freezes and it replenishes the perennial reservoirs that feed the rivers, streams and lakes in Kashmir during the months of summer.Cultural Importance- According to Persian tradition, the night of 21st December is celebrated as Shab-e Yalda-“Night of Birth’’, or Shab-e Chelleh. – “Night of Forty”. The Iranian concept of Chilla Gejasi also survives in Kashmir, where Chillai Kalan designates the 40-day harshest winter period.
About Winter Solstice
It is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere.
On December 22 the day will be one second longer and gradually the duration of day time will increase.This situation will be reversed six months from now, on June 21, 2021, when the Northern Hemisphere will see the Summer Solstice. The day will be the year’s longest on the Summer Solstice.It occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, located at 23.5° latitude South.
mportance
For centuries, this day has had a special place in several communities due to its astronomical significance and is celebrated in many ways across the world.Jewish people call it ‘Tekufat Tevet’, which marks the start of winter. In Iran and neighbouring Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, the Winter Solstice is celebrated as Yalda or Shab-e-Yalda.In Vedic tradition, it is the first day of Uttarayana.Uttarayana: It is the period between Makar Sankranti and Karka Sankranti
In the Southern Hemisphere, where the Winter Solstice is in June, Peru celebrates the day with a festival called Inti Raymi, meaning “sun festival”.
What are Equinoxes?
There are only two times of the year when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in a “nearly” equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes and these events are referred to as Equinoxes.
There are two equinoxes namely Vernal and Autumnal.
The days become a little longer at the higher latitudes (those at a distance from the equator) because it takes the sun longer to rise and set.
People in the Kashmir valley are finding unique ways to celebrate the start of ‘chillai kalan’, a local term for the 40-day period of harshest winter that begins annually from December 21.
On the occasion tourists from across the country throng different tourist spots to witness the formation of very long icicles from water dripping from a hillock.
The Kashmir valley is reeling under a cold wave as minimum temperatures hover around minus 6 degrees Celsius, freezing water taps and creating sheets of ice around the edges of most water bodies.
According to the Meteorological Department, tourist hotspot Gulmarg is witnessing minimum temperature of around minus 10.6 degrees Celsius and Pahalgam is about minus 9.2 degrees Celsius.The department has predicted a further dip in the night temperature.