The winter season in Kashmir is divided into three phases, beginning with ‘Chillai Kalan’– the 40-day period of extreme winter characterised by heavy snowfall and bitter cold.
Chillai Kalan: Higher reaches of Kashmir received moderate snowfall, while rains lashed the plains as ‘Chillai-Kalan’– the 40-day period of harshest winter– commenced in the Valley on Sunday. Snow and rains brought much-needed respite for people across Kashmir as the region was plagued by a prolonged dry spell.
What is ‘Chillai Kalan’?
The winter season in Kashmir is divided into three phases, beginning with ‘Chillai Kalan’– the 40-day period of extreme winter characterised by heavy snowfall and bitter cold, when temperatures across the Valley drop well below the freezing point.
The Chillai Kalan (big cold) usually begins on December 21 and will end on January 30, during which Kashmir Valley faces its harshest phase of the winter season, including widespread snowfall, sub-zero temperatures and intense cold waves.
Chillai Kalan is followed by ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold)– a 20-day period of moderate winter from January 31 to February 19, and the 10-day ‘Chillai-Bacha’ (baby cold), towards the fag end of the winter season from February 20 to March 2.
Only Sunday, Chillai Kalan officially commenced in Kashmir, bringing with rain and snow on the very first day, which locals believe to be a good omen and a precursor to plenty of snow throughout the rest of the winter season.
Kashmir receives snow, rains as Chillai Kalan begins
Fresh snowfall was witnessed in higher reaches of Kashmir, and plains received rainfall on the first day of ‘Chillai Kalan’ on Sunday. The Gulmarg tourist resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district received about two inches of snow, while snowfall began on early Sunday in the tourist resort of Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Kargil highway, and was going on when last reports came in.
Sadhna Top, the pass connecting the Tangdhar sector along the Line of Control to the main Kashmir Valley, received moderate snowfall with six inches of snow accumulating since Saturday night, officials said.
Meanwhile, summer capital Srinagar and plains across Kashmir Valley witnessed light to moderate rainfall, which started overnight, and was was going on till late Sunday evening. The weather department has forecast increased snowfall and rain in the Valley over the next 48 hours.
The precipitation in Kashmir ended a prolonged dry spell, which led to a spike in common ailments such as cough and cold, especially among children and the elderly.
(With PTI inputs)
