Chilai Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir, began on Thursday amid intense cold with the mercury dropping many degrees below the freezing point at most places in the Valley.
‘Chilai Kalan’, which starts on December 21, will end on January 31. During the Chilai Kalan, there are maximum chances of snowfall.
During the 40-day harsh winter of Chilai Kalan, Valley remains in the grip of cold wave and the temperature drops many degrees below the freezing point leading to the freezing of water bodies, including the famous Dal Lake here, as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley.
Traditionally, the valley residents used to consume dried vegetables during Chilai Kalan and this tradition continues even today.
During Chilai-Kalan, ‘Harissa’, a meshed meat delicacy that is served hot at breakfast, is favourite among the locals.
It is a popular winter delicacy and prepared by grounding mutton to a paste and cooking it with rich and aromatic spices. Preparing Harissa is a very laborious job as it takes around 12 hours to cook the delicacy.
The Chilai Kalan started in the Valley in icy cold conditions and intense cold.
A MeT official said Srinagar recorded a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night.
The unabated cold resulted in freezing of water tapes and several water bodies in parts of iconic Dal Lake and other parts of the valley due to the impact of the falling temperatures.
The MeT official said Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir’s recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius while famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, in Kokernag town the mercury settled at minus 3.0 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius.
The weatherman has forecast generally dry weather over the next few days in Kashmir.
“The weather mainly will remain dry till December 22 and generally cloudy with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir on December 23. From December24-26 the weather will generally remain dry and on December 27 cloudy with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches. From December 28 till the end of the month, the weather will generally remain dry,” the MeT official said.
The intense cold wave has forced people in the city to put on extra layers of clothes to stay warm. The demand for kangris and traditional bunkaris has increased manifold.
Although Chilai Kalan will end on January 31, the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).