Chilla-e-Kalaan: Chillae Kalaan is a Persian word which literally means intense or major cold.
• It is the local name given to 40 day period of harsh winter in Kashmir.
• It is the coldest part of winter, starting from 21 December to January 29 every year.
The period of 40 days severe cold starts from 21 December to 30 January is considered as the most crucial period of winter season. When it snows, the condition gets even worse. Apart from the isolation and gloom, uncertainty also looms over the Valley during Wande (winter), the Kashmiri word for winter. This is the time when electricity is erratic and activity comes to a near-standstill. So, the impending winter shapes the activities of the months before. Before the cold peaks, Kashmiris scour the markets like ants to stock up on food and supplies that will tide them over Chillae Kalaan. It is traditionally defined as a seasonal period of harsh winter accompanied by a change in increase in both frequency and quantity of precipitation usually snow. Winter in Kashmir is not just a season, it is a way of life that compels people to go back to their roots – in the biting cold, only Kashmiri handlooms, weaves and handicrafts can come to the rescue; surviving without the pheran, kanger, namda carpets and gabba (traditional woolen flooring) is near impossible. During winter season and particularly during the period of Chilla-e-Kalaan, people make use of Pheran (Kashmiri dress) and a traditional firing pot called Kanger .Due to subzero temperature, tap water pipelines freeze partially during this period and world-famous Dal Lake also freezes. The sun goes down, the kanger comes out and a snow-clad Valley deals with challenges old and new. The Valley of Kashmir witnesses winter from December to ending February mostly. The three winter months are challenging. Life almost comes to standstill during winter season as one can’t find many people around as it mostly brings misery for people. The maximum temperature occasionally touches 10° Celsius and the minimum temperature comes down to -8° Celsius. In Persian, Chilla-e-Kalaan is referred to as a serious cold. The cold wave reaches its peak when Kashmir’s mountains are completely blanketed in snow for many weeks and the famed Dal Lake reaches freezing temperatures until the fag end of January. Celebrating Chilla-e-Kalaan with scrumptious Harissa, which is a dish cooked with rice and lean mutton Chilla-e-Kalaan that has been spiced with salt, fennel, cardamom, and clove is a quintessential part of Kashmiri tradition, while the first day of Chilla-e-Kalaan is to be celebrated as ‘World Pheran Day’. When the Valley is cut off from the rest of the country, vegetables like beans, tomatoes, turnips, quinces, brinjals, and bottle guards become the staples of many meals. It is said that the snow in Kashmir refills the streams, rivers, and lakes during this time and lasts longer. t 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 Chilla-e-Kalaan does not last long. It is this harsh snow that charges the glaciers of the Valley and Ladakh and revitalizes the perennial reservoirs that feed the rivers, streams, and lakes in Kashmir during the months of summer.
Special about Chila-e-Kalaan :
1. Aanchar (Pickle): Kashmirs are fond of pickles mostly made of home grown vegetables with Nadru (lotus stem). It is an essential part of meals during Chillae Kalaan. The pickles are prepared after a laborious and painstaking preparation for a few days and then kept dumped underground for over a month to enhance its taste. The pickles were stored in clay cookware. During harsh winter months it is extensively used.
2. Harissa: Celebrating Chillae Kalaan with sumptuous Harissa is a quintessential part of Kashmiri tradition. Harrisa is prepared from minced meat mixed with rice flour. The mutton is kept in an earthen oven overnight so that the flavors drown in. So people feel delighted to start filling their bellies with this delicious dish.
3. Hamam: People spend most of the time in Hamaam or central heating room in which floor is made of limestone on hollow base. The stones are supported with concrete pillars. The hollow space underneath is used to light the wood to make stone slab warm.
In the past, Hamaam used to be only in Masjids and locals would spend most of the time there. Now-a-days many homes also have Hamaam as an alternative to the modern central heating system.
4. Snow Throwing (Sheen e Jung): Fighting with snowballs used to be the favorite sport among youth in Chillae Kalaan. Two rival parties would make snow bunkers and frontline warriors would make snowballs to be hurled with full force at the opposing camp till one party would completely destroy the bunker of the rival team.
(The author is a teacher at Govt. High School Brakpora Anantnag. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are author’s own and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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