Srinagar, Jan 9: For Danish Me'raj, 6, building snowman has been a longtime desire. "Last year papa and mummy did not allow me to go out in snow… This time it took me three hours to build this one," says Danish.
 Building snowman has long been a favorite pastime of Kashmiris, especially the City dwellers. Not just kids but people from almost all age groups relish the experience.
  "In my youth I would spend whole day building a snowman. But now people do it very quickly," says Danshi's father, Me'raj.
 Observers believe that kids more adept at sculpting than elders. "They have more energy and tenacity to handle the cold snow for longer time," says Fazeela Hussain, a researcher in parenting and child development. Many believe that handling snow for prolonged periods can inflict skin problems to children.
 "We should ensure safety measures such as proper snow gloves and enough clothing. We cannot kill their wish to build snowman just because they'll catch cold," Fazeela argues.
 Snowman in Kashmir varies from region to region. In rural Kashmir the snowman appears wearing a Phiran (A loose woolen gown with long sleeves) while in City the Snowman greets you with a formal look, wearing a necktie, a trendy hat and, in some cases, holding a cigar between the lips. "Snowman building is a social activity that should be encouraged. It reflects the mood of the society," says Tariq Ahmad, a culture activist.
 "In fact the government should organize competition. This will provide a break from the depression cold weather sets in."

Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 9 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST