Everyone yearns for the advent of winter, because it looks different from other seasons. Children start counting the days of the approaching winter. They believe that winter brings with it snow and vacations. Winter without snow seems like a bride without jewellery. Snow transforms the landscape, wrapping it in a white, natural carpet. It brings a pleasing and alluring look to the entire valley. Our eyes and mind get refreshed while looking at the calm and serene look that snow-clad mountains wear. The snow falling brings tranquillity far and wide; as though God Himself has fitted a natural silencer to the valley.

The snowy season is a fascinating season for tourists; they often visit Kashmir during the winter season. They take delight in snow and play various games in the snow. Tourists relish the chilling cold of the snowy winter, as it has no effect on their bodies. Same as children, they would like to come out frequently, like a snail, and act like a lion outside when they play with their peers in snow. Children often ignore their parents’ repeated warnings about playing in the snow
People of different age groups and genders look at winter from different perspectives. The elders in Kashmir welcome the snowy season in an economic sense; they believe that snowfall helps maintain the water table and reduces water scarcity, and ends the dry spell. They do not view and experience snow in the same way that tourists and children do. Elders often say that tourists come here to enjoy the snow and then return back to the warmer places, just like children, who are mostly innocent and unaware of both harsh and beneficial sides of winter.
Winter’s harsh face is unwelcome in our valley. Nobody likes this side of winter. It is true that happiness and sorrow go together. So are the pleasant and unpleasant sides of winter. This seamy side of winter brings a sea of troubles. The unwelcome guest forcibly locks people inside their homes. People prefer to stay inside their homes and are reluctant to do any task except in the evening to buy food items and medicines as many Kashmiris are dependent on medication due to unhealthy lifestyles.
This time, winter seems far harsher. Even in the month of January, there is little hope of snowfall, and it only wraps us in intense cold. Water scarcity is visible everywhere. Wells are drying up. Most people during winter postpone bathing for weeks. Women are often seen on the roads carrying empty water pitchers, searching for water from place to place.
Every passing winter reminded us what winter seems to be in reality and teaches us a lesson that we should make a good preparation before its arrival. This time winter troubles us and mostly poor families and earning resentment for its unexpected harshness.
People want the long dry spell to finally come to an end. The long dry spell brings unpleasant feelings and a pall of gloom in elders. Lack of snow is seen as a bad omen and a matter of serious concern for them, as they believe that snowfall in winter is essential for all forms of production.
No doubt bone-chilling cold amplifies pain in our ailing bodies, and our unstoppable habit of eating hard food like red kidney beans and pickle makes it even worse and a burden for the stomach to digest and throws us into a sleepy mood. Our life style like lack of movement, affects our health. Cold season confines people at home, as there is no bustle in the markets in the mornings and evenings as they do in summer. Nowadays large crowds can be seen outside hospitals, private clinics, X-ray technicians, and medical shops, all waiting for their turn. The pale and gloomy faces of patients reflect the agony and hate towards the cold weather, despite the sun shines like it does in summer.
I would like to highlight once again the problem of water scarcity; this time, winter has shown its harshest face, particularly exposing the shortcomings of the PHE department. People from pillar to post are in search of portable water. This time, winter has completely deprived the whole valley, particularly the villages from water. We cannot put the entire blame on winter; the worst condition of water shortages and electricity is not new to Kashmir especially to villages. The government departments are like the inhabitants of Kashmir who remain in a deep slumber in summer and always complaint about the bad conditions of roads, water shortage, faulty transformers, and poor electricity lines that collapse even under a few inches of snow in winter. Why are these repairs not carried out during the summer months? Why does winter seem to be their only favourite time for maintenance and other projects?
Every winter, a dozen linemen lose their lives while coming out to repair fallen lines and poles in the intense cold. However, this winter, there is less such accidents due to the lack of snow. In the past, we used to hear such mishaps every frequently.
No doubt improvement is seen with respect to the electricity supply and road macadamization, but still there is a lot to be done in the villages.
If nobody pays heed; the days of winter are numbered, the lessons will once again be forgotten, and the same winter along with hardships we are going to face again, leaving us unprepared for the next winter. If we are sensible, we should take a lesson from the hard side of this winter seriously. Winter should serve as a reminder, not a punishment. The difficulties we face every year demand serious preparation, accountability from concerned departments, and collective responsibility from society. Unless authorities plan ahead and citizens act responsibly.

Email:----------------------pirfarhad123@gmail.com