Chillai Kalan in kashmir 2024-2025 in place

Chillai Kalan in kashmir 2024-2025 in place 

Chillai Kalan meaning  the harshest winter is a quite essential  part of Kashmir tradition and the first day of Chillai Kalan in Kashmir is also being celebrated as "World Pheran Day". It is witnessed since decades in Kashmir with temperature dropping to a bone chilling minus 8.5 degrees  Celsius.  Kashmir in winter season enters its 40 day long Chillai Kalan, the harshest winter phase with temperature dropping down below freezing and thus converting  the entire valley of Kashmir into a snow wonderland. 

Kashmir valley  this year  is witnessing a severe cold wave as temperature dropped during  the on set of Chillai Kalan.  Chillai Kalan, the forty days  harshest winter began in Kashmir on 21st of December 2024 with intense cold  that was witnessed  and welcomed  by Srinagar city with its coldest season's night recorded  history of 133 years as per the reports and this sub zero grip spread over to other parts of the valley  and added woes across the valley.  Due to decrease in temperature,  the frigid weather  has caused water bodes including world famous Dal Lake to freeze, along with water supply lines in may part of Kashmir.  The dry spell and biting cold  have given birth to many  health issues such a cold and coughs thus adding to the challenges of 40 days harshest winter season i.e. Chillai Kilan.

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Chillai Kalan 

This year Chillai Kalan  commenced on 20th December, 2024 and the entire Kashmir valley experienced coldest December night since 1974 when the city of Srinagar in Kashmir, India  recorded a low temperature of minus 10.3 degree Celsius  and the coldest weather since 1891. Chillai Kalan that entered the Kashmir valley on last Saturday along with the harshest chapter of its winter as it always marks a 40 day long stretch of intense cold  that began on 21st December, 2024.  It is the coldest part of the winter generally  starting in third week of December in whole of Kashmir valley and lasts always up to ending of  29th of January.

we can say in simple words that Chillai Kalan, the harshest winter means forty days of intense cold and the harshest period in Kashmir valley. This season brings in a lot of snowfall, cold wave and even rainfall sometimes also with it for complete forty days. This Chillai Kalan ends on January 31st every year but the cold wave continues to be there in the entire valley of Kashmir which is followed by a brief period of 20 days locally known as  Chillai- Khurd  that  literally means a small cold period and then a more days of baby cold called as Chillai Bacha which lasts from 20th February to 2nd of March after forty days of Chillai Kalan.

The most important thing about the Chillai Kalan is that during its 40 days period,  the nights are very chilly and the temperature during the day time remains in single digits with minimum temperature dropping down to  zero and even mostly to minus degrees. This harshest winter of forty days, Kashmir  valley witnesses extremely high snowfall and the snow that falls during this period freezes and lasts for longer period.  It is this  snow that replenishes  the perennial reservoirs & glaciers  which completely  feed the rivers of entire Kashmir valley, its streams and lakes  during summer season. 

The local people of Kashmir  valley  welcome  the first day of Chillai Kalan  by celebrating world Pheran Day  and this year also Pheran Day  was celebrated  on its first day with great enthusiasm and gaiety at Srinagar. Pheran is actually a loose woolen robe that locals wear in winter season  to protect themselves against intensive cold during harshest period  of Chillai Kalan. Harissa, a local mutton dish of Kashmir remains main focus and attraction of the local people  during this period.

How Do People of Kashmir Keep warm in Chillai Kalan :

The people of Kashmir during winter season but specially in Chillai Kalan & Chillai Khurd use wooden fired  Hamams, Bukharis and portable and popular known as  Kangari to keep themselves  warm & in many urban areas of Kashmir, people  do make use of electric heaters, and modern appliances  to deal with this harshest cold but generally due to erratic electric supply, people are bound to use other means like Kangri, Bukhari and Hamams to keep themselves warm and hot. 

During the period of 40 days Chillai Kalan mostly internal link roads and national High way of Kashmir sometimes gets blocked due to heavy snowfall and avalanches but administration always remain prepared well in advance for clearing the roads and inter link roads with snow clearance machines and other necessary man power to mantain connectivity at any cost in this harsh season for the convenience of the general public with rest of the country.

The local residents of Kashmir make specific preparations and practices well in advance to tackle the  Chillai Kalan, the forty days harshest  winter  when there is severe cold wave, heavy snowfall and freezing  temperatures, by stocking adequate supply of essential commodities in bulk like food staples, fuel for heating, winter clothing like Pheran, woolen garments,  Jackets,  and insulated footwear  to protect themselves from  extreme cold, heating arrangements  to cope up with  chilling cold wave,  use of earthen pot commonly known as Kangri to keep themselves  warm.  Nowadays modern gas heaters and electronic appliances are also used on large scale by the inhabitants. In nut shell the Preparation of Chillai Kalan  in Kashmir involves a combination of  practical measures, cultural practices and strong sense of community  that helps them  to endure the severe winter conditions  and maintain a sense of normalcy during this challenging harsh weather. 

Conclude :  

It is very important to note that once Chillai Kalan ends, the twenty day Chillai Khurd starts between 30th January up to 18th February  followed by  the 10 days long  Chillai Bacha from 19th February to  28th February. The entire period of winter is literally interesting and amazing experience for  Tourists and travelers who are in search of snowy escape because Chillai Kalan offers a magical snowy Kashmir  with extreme cold and landscapes that will definitely  make visitors trip memorable and unforgettable. 

The most interesting and fascinating that about the Kashmir in this entire period is that temperature drops below freezing point, hence convert the entire valley of Kashmir in to magical snow wonderland. The stunning places to visit in kashmir in Chillai Kalan are Srinagar city, Gulmarg, Pahalgam,  Doodpathri, Shankaracharya Hills  Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden, Apharwat Park,  Betaab Valley, Amar Nath Cave,  Sonamarg Hill Station, Patnitop Hill Station,  Aru Valley, Shalimar Garden to experience snowfall  very closely as well enjoy the harshest weather of Chillai Kalan of Kashmir Valley. Every year lakhs  of Tourists and travelers visit Kashmir during this season to  see the snow fall closely, participate in adventure activities as well enjoy the natural beauty of magical snow wonderland of the paradise on the earth. 

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