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| Kashmir Craves for Snow | | Sheena Peto Peito | |
O.N. KOUL
The 2025-2026 Chillai Kalan—Kashmir’s traditional 40-day, harshest winter period December 21 to January 31 -has gained national attention for being profoundly dry, with the plains, including Srinagar, remaining largely snowless for more first half of the season. This, phenomena have led to a 96% rainfall/snowfall deficit for more than first half of the Chillai Kalan. Alas! This Chillai Kalan -that is harshest phase of winter in Kashmir there is no snow and it is a very sad experience for the people of Kashmir especially for the farmers, orchardists and agriculturists and last but not least for the ordinary Kashmiri’s. It is an unpleasant experience that this Chillai kalan there is no snow. The winter has changed a lot as winter sans snow is unthinkable, but it is happening and this new phenomenon of the climate is in fact worrisome. Chillia kalan in Kashmir is meaningless without snow as the old good days have ceased and the impact of climate change and global warming is not only staring us in the face but it has made its peculiar and sad presence felt this winter. Snow is the soul of Kashmir and winter in Kashmir without snow is nothing short of killing. Snow is the life, vitality and not only the omen for good days but the good days itself Water which is life giving element of nature is directly associated with snow and without snow, there is every likelihood of draught in Kashmir. Our rivers, rivulets, streams, springs, canals, have almost dried and need snow and without snow, there is dry climate which has brought in its lap severe dry cold and winter diseases like bad cold, cough, respiratory problems and asthma. Snow is the need of the hour and the Kashmiris lament and curse their fate for the absence of snow. Snow which results in adequate and abundant water both for human consumption and farming and irrigation in the summer months is conspicuous by its absence. Kashmiris yearn for snow so that it will bring in its wake water the life giving element and our farms, agricultural lands and orchards get enough water for irrigation. Snowing in harsh winter was pleasant and feast to the eyes of Kashmiris and it is sad and unfortunate that those good old days have disappeared and have become a history and at present there is no snow but only harsh, severe dry cold and winter which adversely impacts the welfare and wellbeing of Kashmiris. As we navigate the heart of the current seasonal cycle, an eerie, dusty silence has replaced the crunch of frost. While, towering peaks of the Himalayas 9including Pir Panjal stand draped in their usual heavy blanket of white, the plains of Kashmir Vale –the verdant heart of our civilization –remain brown, brittle and bare. This year, however, the Challiai Kalan has arrived as a ghost in the plains. While, the high- altitude resorts of Gulmarg and Sonamarg boast of their winter finery, the valley floor –where the pulse of Kashmiri life beats -gasp for moisture. For a valley that defines itself by the snow, this absence is a form of cultural and ecological erasure. It is a disturbing development that major portion of harsh winter has ended without snow and it is very unpleasant happening for Kashmiris as snow which ensures adequate water not only for human consumption but for vast span of agricultural and farming activities has passed without snowing and it is a serious and grave concern for Kashmiris economy and rural development. Life in Kashmir becomes difficult if not impossible in Kashmir without snowing. Snowing is life providing element and without snowing especially in the harshest phase of winter brings in its wake cough, bronchitis, bad cold and asthma and dry and severe cold which adversely impacts life and wellbeing of Kashmiris. In fact there is now changed winter without snow and it brings in its wake only dry and severe cold. The day are over when the children of Kashmir especially in villages and rural areas used to play with snow and form snowmen called Sheene Moen and big balls of snow. Kashmiris in yester years were enjoying the sighting and seeing of snowing and they enjoyed snowing very much. It is a good and pleasant experience to sip Nun chai -Salty tea while it is snowing but in this years of the harshest phase of the winter all this enjoyment and pleasure is absent as there is no snowing. Kashmiris in harsh winters cook dry vegetables pluses and dry fish called in Kashmir parlance as Hu gaud and it was really a pleasure to relish these things in harshest winter. Especially children make merry and enjoy the sight of snowfall. In, winters the villages in past weave mats of dry paddy grass called Patej but now it has disappeared. Moreover, villages and farmers in Kashmir during winter weave Pulhour -a footwear made from dry grass and this also has gone into oblivion. This harshest phase of winter there is severe dry cold which in no way augurs well for Kashmir and Kashmiris. The harshest occurrence of the harshest and severest phase of the winter 2026 passed without snowing and it is a big concern to the people of Kashmir. In fact, the lack of snow in the plains is a hydrological catastrophe in the making. The, sights across the valley are jarring to any local eye. The Jhelum, once a roaring artery of the region, has turned into a skeletal stream. This dry -cold spell serves a devastating blow to the horticulture sector, the very backbone of the Kashmir’s economy. It is sad that Kashmir is bereft of snowfall this Chillai Kalan. One of the Kashmir’s main winter tourisms, Gulmarg has been bereft of snow this season. Normally, the region gets its first snowfall in the first half of December, and then through most of January and even in February. But it has been mostly dry this season. While snowfall in the region has been showing a declining trend in recent years, this winter is remarkable. It seems that we have done some wrong and the almighty God has punished us by way of not no snow which is a curse for the Kashmir and it will spell doom and dark days and environment for Kashmir. Kashmiri children no longer sing the winter folk song Sheena Pito Piteo Mama Yeto Yeto. Kashmiris pray to Allah for snowing and hoped that God will be pleased and it will snow and Kashmir like the past will be enveloped in a chadder of snow and it will be a pleasant sight and people of Kashmir and especially children will make merry. |
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