Welcome Chillai Kalan
News Kashmir Analysis
The winter in Kashmir is quite long and interesting.
Chillai Kalan or Chilla-i-Kalan is core part of the beautiful winter of Kashmir. It is forty days [of intense cold as 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.
We need to bear in mind that the period is quite diverse.
Chilla-i-Kalan is followed by 20-day long Chilla-i-Khurd (Kashmiri pronunciation: [t͡ʃilaj xɔrɨd], that occurs between January 30 and February 18, and a 10-days long Chilla-i-Bachha (Kashmiri pronunciation: which is from February 19 to February 28.
Kashmiris brace this tough period with love and enthusiasm.
According to knowledge source of wikipedia,
During this 40 day period in Kashmir, nights are chilly and day temperatures thrive in single digits. During Chillai-Kalan, the weather in valley of Kashmir continues to remain cold with minimum temperatures hovering below the freezing point. The snow that falls during this time period freezes and lasts longer. It 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 chillai kalan does not last long.
This year at onset of this tough period we had good news that dry period would end .
Meteorologist Malik Mubeen Ahmed few days back said that Kashmir is likely to witness a change in weather conditions from the evening of December 20, with chances of rain in plains and snowfall in higher reaches.
Talking to Kashmir News service (KNS) ,He said the next 24 hours will remain largely dry, with only minimal chances of precipitation in isolated pockets. “From the evening of December 20, cloudy weather will set in, with possibilities of rain in plains and snowfall over mountainous areas,” he said.
According to Malik Mubeen Ahmed, December 21 may witness fairly widespread rainfall in plains and snowfall in higher reaches, especially in north Kashmir. He added that upper areas of north Kashmir may receive up to one foot of snowfall, while plains of Kupwara could see 2–3 inches of snow and Srinagar may receive 1–2 inches.
Undoubtedly, the people of Kashmir with open arms are welcoming this beautiful and challenging period. People are also hoping that they would see quality water and power supply during this period.
