SRINAGAR: Kashmir, gripped by the icy clutches of ‘Chillai Kalan,’ is enduring one of its harshest winters in recent memory. The mercury plummeted to -8.5 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, marking the coldest December night in fifty years. Across the valley, residents woke up to a frozen landscape—water supply lines blocked by ice, the iconic Dal Lake glazed with frost, and roads slick with dangerous layers of black ice.
‘Chillai Kalan,’ which began on December 21, represents Kashmir’s 40 most severe days of winter, steeped in cultural and historical significance. It is a period when Kashmiris traditionally turn to age-old methods of warmth and sustenance. As modern electric heating gadgets fail amidst erratic power supply and hours-long outages, residents are reviving traditional ‘kangris’ (wicker-clay firepots), wood-fuelled ‘bukharis,’ and even the ancestral hamams. These traditional means of staying warm have seen a resurgence, with firewood and charcoal traders reporting brisk business as the demand surges.
The extreme cold has not only disrupted daily life but has also created a unique economic ripple. Water crises are exacerbated by a long spell of dry weather—80 per cent below the average rainfall since October. Domestic water consumption has been hit hard, with frozen pipes in most urban areas and rural pockets. Moreover, tens of thousands of water pumps and boosters have broken down, burdening local mechanics struggling to keep up with repair demands.
Yasir Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar’s upscale Gulbahar colony, lament their reliance on electric heating systems. “We invested in air conditioners and electric heating, but they are useless now with 12-hour power cuts,” he said, underscoring the return to time-tested methods of staying warm. Abdul Ahad Wani from Rainawari echoed similar frustration. After converting his wood-fuelled hamam to an electric one for convenience, he now finds himself grappling with the absence of electricity.
Officials from the Kashmir Power Development Corporation blame overloading and damaged transformers for the prolonged outages, urging residents to conserve electricity. “We are trying our best to maintain services, but winter always tests our infrastructure,” said a KPDCL spokesperson.
The cold spell’s impact has even reached Kashmir’s rich traditions. From the Persian-derived term ‘Chillai Kalan’ to the cultural practices it inspires, this period of deep freeze has always been significant. Historians trace the phrase to Mughal-era influences when Persian became Kashmir’s court language. The period also holds spiritual significance, with connections to the Sufi practices of retreating indoors for meditation during harsh winters.
While locals adapt to the punishing weather, meteorologists foresee no immediate respite. Light snow may touch higher altitudes, but widespread snowfall is not expected until the end of the month, leaving the valley to endure its icy ordeal. With such a biting cold, hopes now rest on the snowfall to replenish the region’s depleting water reserves and offer farmers some assurance of a fruitful agricultural season.
Kashmir’s winters have always been a test of resilience, and this year’s ‘Chillai Kalan’ is no exception. It is a season of hardship, tradition, and community, a time when the old ways return to provide solace in the face of an unrelenting cold. (With PTI inputs)
