Nature knows it's course best. Every season has its own importance and utility. One season opens the smooth passage for the other to flourish. Winter is the fourth season of the four well known seasons of Kashmir. It follows autumn and lasts from December to February. It is generally considered as insignificant and treated as an unwelcome guest. This period between 22nd December and 03 January is it's climax.
Winter is the coldest season of the year. During this season, the sun loses its heat and brightness and often remains hidden behind clouds, fog or mist. The temperature is usually around freezing point. It is usually a cruel and an unpleasant season though it has a charm of its own. In winter, the valley seems to be overall dressed in white. The streets, bazzars, fields, gardens and roofs are all covered with snow. Water freezes and it is icy everywhere. Birds, beasts, cattle and other creatures are unwilling to roam about. As soon as winter sets in, the business hustle and bustle declines. Sometimes due to heavy snowfall and avalanches, the valley gets cut off from the rest of the world for a long time.
This season usually starts from December and ends in the last week of February. "Chillai kalan" , a period of 40 days, is considered as the harsh and most chilly period and everything gets frozen everywhere. If we analyze winter in the present and past few decades, it has undergone a great change. In the past, people usually were staying at their homes and were remaining busy with their domestic chores. Preparations for the winter season were at peak in the month of November, the process of accumulation was in practice. They were collecting fuel wood for cooking purposes as traditional "Damur" was the only source of cooking; cereals, pulses, dried vegetables, food for livestock and other commodities for their sustenance and comfort. Winter was very harsh and heavy snowfall was taking place during these days and people were clearing snow at the roofs by using various instruments . Houses were usually made up of mud, bricks and the roof was made up of wooden pieces (termed as single pash) in Kashmiri language. They were using "Pherans" (Traditional coat) and "Kangris" (Firepot); these were traditional Kashmiri weapons to fight the biting chill of the winter. People were usually making their livelihood by performing various activities like handicrafts, shawl weaving, clay pot embodiment, papermachi and other skillful work. Aged people were considered as the source of wisdom and knowledge; they were sharing their experiences and brave events with the younger population.
"Folklore" tradition was one of the vital elements of Kashmiri culture; stories and folktales which were based on reality were shared which ultimately lead to cultural transmission between generations. People were suffering a lot because facilities were not too sufficient, the concept of electricity was not there, Cooking gas, room heaters, blowers, etc was not there.
But in present times, everything seems so different. Winter is welcomed with great enthusiasm. People are eagerly waiting for snowfall and enjoy it in every possible way. There is no concept of winter preparation, accumulation because everything is available now. Technology and facility has boosted our day to day life and has eased our hardships. Due to various inventions and new instruments, our difficulties are constantly decreasing. Old things are getting replaced with the new ones, Cook gas and stove has replaced Damur, Electricity has made our life so easy, we can't imagine our life without electricity; various gadgets which we are using in our day to day life are basically functioning due to electricity like our heating systems, blowers, geysers, room heaters, light etc. In order to protect ourselves from this chilling winter, we wear warm clothes which have been designed accordingly, Hamam is used during the winters. Social media has affected our communication mechanism to a greater extent. In earlier times, people usually stayed indoors but nowadays and are remaining disconnected with the rest of the world. But due to various social media platforms and mobile phones , we are now connected with the rest through Facebook, Instagram, whatsapp, Twitter etc etc.
People are capturing each and every moment on camera and sharing it with the rest which indirectly grabs the attention of millions of people throughout the globe. Mobile phone has replaced the Folklore tradition and each and everything is available on the internet, YouTube.
People are now planning their every event on the basis of prediction which was not possible a few years back. Advancement in science and technology has made our life easy and comfortable in these chilling and harsh winters.
Mohammad Arif Reshi is from Bothu Bandipora while Aadil Ahmed Bhat is from Wanigam Pattan Baramulla and pursuing Masters in Sociology at Kashmir University (Photo Courtesy Kashmir Life, Outlook)
