TeresitaBunch at 07:01, 27 April 2026

2026-04-27T07:01:48Z

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{{Short description|40 days of intense cold in Kashmir}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
'''''Chillai Kalan''''' or '''''Chilla-i-Kalan'''''{{Efn| Kashmiri pronunciation: [t͡ʃilaj kalaːn]}} ({{Langx|fa|چلّه کلان|4=Forty grand [days]}})<ref>{{Cite book|last=Snedden|first=Christopher|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a19eCwAAQBAJ&q=chillai+kalan&pg=PT36|title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|date=2015-09-15|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-1-84904-622-0|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=AYAZ |first=AHMAD |date=2025-12-22 |title=Chillai Kalan in Kashmir: Forty days of endurance, resilience, and stark beauty |url=https://risingkashmir.com/chillai-kalan-in-kashmir-forty-days-of-endurance-resilience-and-stark-beauty/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Rising Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref> refers to a forty-day period of intense cold and harsh winter weather experienced annually from 21 December to 29 January, in the [[Kashmir Valley]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title=Kashmir continues to shiver as 'Chillai Kalan' begins|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/kashmir-continues-to-shiver-as-chillai-kalan-begins-929861.html|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref> It represents the coldest phase of winter in the region and has long held climatic, cultural, and social significance<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Fazili |first=Er Mohammad Ashraf |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Kashmir_Jhelum_Valley_Civilization/iYVTEAAAQBAJ |title=Kashmir-Jhelum Valley Civilization: History and Geography of Kashmir |date=2021-11-21 |publisher=Ashraf Fazili |pages=223-226 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Snedden |first=Christopher |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Understanding_Kashmir_and_Kashmiris/a19eCwAAQBAJ |title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris |date=2015-09-15 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-1-84904-622-0 |page=24 |language=en}}</ref>

Chillai Kalan is followed by two shorter cold periods; ''Chill-i-Khurd''{{Efn| Kashmiri pronunciation: [t͡ʃilaj xɔrɨd]}} ({{lit|forty small [days]}}), a twenty-day phase from 30 January to 18 February, and ''Chill-i-Bachha''{{Efn| Kashmiri pronunciation: [t͡ʃilɨ bat͡ʃi]}} ({{lit|forty baby [days]}}) which is from February 19 to February 28.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title=Intense winter begins in Jammu & Kashmir with sub-zero temperatures|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/intense-winter-begins-in-jammu-kashmir-with-sub-zero-temperatures/story-rm8hE0s1coZKQuIYp8mtEP.html|access-date=2020-12-22|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2023-12-21 |title=Kashmir's harshest winter period 'Chilla-i-Kalan' begins |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kashmirs-harshest-winter-period-chilla-i-kalan-begins/articleshow/106172730.cms |access-date=2025-12-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Etymology and origins==
The term Chilla-i Kalan derives from [[Persian language|Persian]], where {{Lang|fa|چِهل}} (''chil'') means "forty" and {{Lang|fa|کلان}} (''kalan'') means "major" or "greater",<ref name=":3" /> reflecting both the duration and severity of the cold spell.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-12-28 |title=Wandeh: The Kashmir Winter |url=https://kashmirlife.net/wandeh-the-kashmir-winter-vol-14-issue-39-306860/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Kashmir Life - Latest News & Breaking News from Kashmir |language=en-GB}}</ref> This naming stems from the period's historical associations and linguistic influence of [[Persian culture]] in Kashmir during the medieval and early modern eras.
==Weather patterns==
Chillai Kalan corresponds climatically with the [[winter solstice]] and deep winter conditions in the [[western Himalayas]], when temperatures reach their annual lows and cold continental air masses dominate the region. During this period, temperatures often remain below freezing, particularly at night.<ref name=":0" /> Water bodies such as lakes and rivers may freeze, including portions of the iconic [[Dal Lake]] in [[Srinagar]].
[[File:Snow in Jammu and Kashmir (MODIS 2018-12-22).jpg|thumb|[[Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer|MODIS]] image showing widespread snow cover across [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], and [[Ladakh]].]]
Snowfall is frequent and heavy, especially in higher elevations. Snow that falls during Chillai Kalan typically accumulates and persists for extended periods,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Jammu And Kashmir Braces For Harsh Winter As 'Chillai Kalan' Begins |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chillai-kalan-jammu-and-kashmir-braces-for-harsh-winter-as-chillai-kalan-begins-2662669 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20211221094137/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chillai-kalan-jammu-and-kashmir-braces-for-harsh-winter-as-chillai-kalan-begins-2662669 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |access-date=2025-12-23 |work=NDTV.com}}</ref> contributing to glacier mass and replenishing downstream water reservoirs, streams and rivers used for irrigation and municipal water in warmer months.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=AYAZ |first=AHMAD |date=2024-12-22 |title=Chillai Kalan: Kashmir’s Harshest Winter Period |url=https://risingkashmir.com/chillai-kalan-kashmirs-harshest-winter-period/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Rising Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Reduced snowfall in recent years ===
[[File:Lack of snow in Gulmarg, Western Himalayas (Copernicus 2024-01-29).jpg|thumb|Satellite Imagery showing lack of snow in [[Gulmarg]] in 2024 compared to 2023]]
In the recent years, Chillai Kalan has sometimes seen unusually low levels of snowfall and precipitation, particularly in the early and mid-winter months.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-01-08 |title=Kashmir’s Chillai Kalan Records Driest Start in Recent Years |url=https://kashmirlife.net/kashmirs-chillai-kalan-records-driest-start-in-recent-years-337717/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Kashmir Life - Latest News & Breaking News from Kashmir |language=en-GB}}</ref> Reports by local meteorological sources have recorded periods where the first weeks of Chillai Kalan passed with little to no wet weather, extending dry spells that are uncommon for this period traditionally associated with frequent snow and rain. In some seasons, snowfall in the plains was minimal or absent for several weeks, prompting concerns among residents, farmers, and tourism stakeholders about water resources and winter economic activity.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-04-17 |title=Low snowfall this winter may trigger water crisis in Kashmir: Experts |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/latest-news/low-snowfall-this-winter-may-trigger-water-crisis-in-kashmir-experts/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Greater Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Qayoom |first=Irfan Yattoo & Aatif |date=2025-02-24 |title=Kashmir’s tourism struggles as snowless winter hits local businesses |url=https://risingkashmir.com/kashmirs-tourism-struggles-as-snowless-winter-hits-local-businesses/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Rising Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-04-17 |title=Will Kashmir’s Low Snowfall Lead To Water Crisis This Summer? |url=https://kashmirobserver.net/2025/04/17/will-kashmirs-low-snowfall-lead-to-water-crisis-this-summer/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Kashmir Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>

These anomalies have been linked in part to shifting weather patterns and warming trends, as observed by climate researchers noting higher snowlines and shifts from snow to rain during winter in parts of the region.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-07-30 |title=Fading Snowlines |url=https://kashmirlife.net/fading-snowlines-vol-14-issue-17-297124/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Kashmir Life - Latest News & Breaking News from Kashmir |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-19 |title=Why Kashmir and Ladakh are without snow this winter, its implications |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/kashmir-ladakh-without-snow-why-implications-9110841/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Impact on daily life==
The prolonged and severe cold of Chillai Kalan has significant effects on daily life and infrastructure in the Valley. Essential services such as water supply lines frequently freeze, disrupting supply in residential areas.<ref name=":0" /> Use of heating devices rises sharply, increasing energy consumptions and occasionally resulting in electricity shortages or blackout. Traditional heating methods often remain in use alongside modern devices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naqash |first=Rayan |title=40 days of biting cold: Life during chillai kalan, Kashmir's harshest period of winter |url=https://scroll.in/magazine/825765/40-days-of-biting-cold-life-during-chillai-kalan-kashmirs-harshest-period-of-winter |access-date=2020-12-22 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Transportation ===
[[File:Indian railways train in snow at Hiller station, Jammu and Kashmir.jpg|thumb|An [[Indian Railways|Indian railways]] train in snow at the Hiller Shahabad railway station in the territory of Jammu and Kashmir.]]
During Chillai Kalan transportation can be hampered by snowfall and icy conditions, and reduced visibility, especially on higher mountain passes.<ref name=":1" /> The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway ([[National Highway 44 (India)|NH 44]]), the road linking the valley with the rest of India, is often closed temporarily due to snow accumulation, landslides, shooting stones, and icy conditions, stranding vehicles and necessitating clearance operations before traffic can resume.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Srinagar-Jammu National Highway Reopens for Traffic After Days of Heavy Snowfall |url=https://thehawk.in/news/states-and-uts/srinagar-jammu-national-highway-reopens-for-traffic-after-days-of-heavy-snowfall |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=thehawk.in |language=en}}</ref>

Heavy snowfall, rain and low visibility frequently disrupt air transportation in and out of Kashmir Valley. Adverse winter weather has led to cancellation and delays of multiple flights at [[Srinagar Airport|Srinagar International Airport]], as poor visibility and snow accumulation affect runway operations and flight schedules.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-12-22 |title=Chille-i-Kalan Begins with Rain and Snow, Flights Cancelled, Key Mountain Roads Closed |url=https://news39.in/chille-i-kalan-begins-with-rain-and-snow-flights-cancelled-key-mountain-roads-closed/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=News 39 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=11 flights cancelled at Srinagar airport due to bad weather |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/11-flights-cancelled-at-srinagar-airport-due-to-bad-weather/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

=== Health ===
Health issues associated with cold, such as respiratory ailments, may rise among vulnerable populations.<ref name=":0" /> The extreme cold increases the incidence of cold-induced skin conditions such as [[chilblains]] (locally known as ''shuh''), which are inflamed, itchy, swollen lumps typically affecting extremities like toes. Medical observations in Kashmir have found chilblains prevalent among children and individuals with lower body mass or genetic susceptibility.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-03-11 |title=Chillaikalan to posh-e-teer: Kashmiris going old-school to save their skin {{!}} Free Press Kashmir |url=https://freepresskashmir.news/2021/03/11/chillaikalan-to-posh-e-teer-kashmiris-going-old-school-to-save-their-skin/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Cultural practices and traditions ==
Chilla-i Kalan is deeply embedded in [[Culture of Kashmir|Kashmiri culture]] and traditional practices, influencing clothing, food, and social customs:
[[File:Pheran2.jpg|thumb|A group of [[Kashmiri people|Kashmiri]] men wearing [[Pheran]]]]
The [[Pheran]], a long woollen cloak native to [[Kashmir Valley]], is widely worn during this period for warmth. 21 December is observed annually as [[Pheran Day]] to celebrate and preserve this winter tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-12-21 |title=Chillai Kalan Begins in Kashmir as Valley Gets Snowfall, World Pheran Day Observed |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/kashmir-marks-beginning-of-chillai-kalan-with-snowfall-and-world-pheran-day-celebrations-ytvd-2839384-2025-12-21 |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-12-21 |title=Kashmir Pheran Day: Div Com Anshul Garg Celebrates Jashn-e-Chillai Kalan |url=https://risingkashmir.com/kashmir-pheran-day-div-com-anshul-garg-celebrates-jashn-e-chillai-kalan/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Rising Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashiq|first=Peerzada|date=2020-12-21|title=Kashmiris welcome 'chillai kalan' with cool pictures|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kashmiris-welcome-chillai-kalan-with-cool-pictures/article33386840.ece|access-date=2021-01-03|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The [[Kanger]], an earthen pot filled with embers carried under the pheran, is a traditional portable heating device used during the coldest days.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-07|title=The Pheran: Traditional Kashmiri Dress|url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/opinion/the-pheran-traditional-kashmiri-dress/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Greater Kashmir|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-11-18 |title=As chill sets in, Kangri season warms up Kashmir’s markets |url=https://www.dailygoodmorningkashmir.com/as-chill-sets-in-kangri-season-warms-up-kashmirs-markets/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Daily Good Morning Kashmir |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Harisse]] (a slow-cooked meat dish) and high-calorie foods are consumed for warmth and energy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gillani |first=Syed Shadab Ali |date=2023-11-18 |title=Harissa: From Ancestral Pots to Modern Plates in Kashmir |url=https://kashmirlife.net/harissa-from-ancestral-pots-to-modern-plates-in-kashmir-333134/ |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Kashmir Life - Latest News & Breaking News from Kashmir |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-14 |title=Harissa: The one-dish winter wonder |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/harissa-the-one-dish-winter-wonder/story-b19QZPAKnXLgI7S7SxFTIM.html |access-date=2025-12-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashiq|first=Peerzada|date=2017-12-21|title=Harissa is a hot favourite in freezing Kashmir|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/harissa-is-a-hot-favourite-in-freezing-kashmir/article22175366.ece|access-date=2020-12-25|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Economic dimensions==
While Chillai Kalan presents challenges, it also influences local economic activities and social rhythms. Traditional crafts and apparel productions, such as woollens, see seasonal demand.
[[File:Panorama of Kongdoori Station, Gulmarg.jpg|thumb|Kandoori station in [[Gulmarg]]]]
Winter tourism, particularly in snowy areas such as [[Gulmarg]], [[Sonamarg]], and [[Pahalgam]], attracts visitors interested in winter sports and scenic landscapes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-12-22 |title=Kashmir: Chillai Kalan arrives as fresh snowfall turns the Valley into a winter wonderland — what exactly is it? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/travel/news/kashmir-chillai-kalan-arrives-as-freshsnowfall-turns-valley-into-winter-wonderland/photostory/126122265.cms |access-date=2025-12-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=skiing in kashmir News and Updates from The Economic Times - Page 5|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/topic/skiing-in-kashmir/news/5/5|access-date=2020-12-22|website=The Economic Times}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Rantas]]
* [[Yalda Night]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Culture of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Kashmiri culture]]
[[Category:Cold waves in Asia]]

Chillai Kalan - Revision history

TeresitaBunch at 07:01, 27 April 2026