Chilai Kalan, the 40-day-long harshest winter period in Kashmir will begin from Friday, even as the local meteorological department predicted dry weather for next one week.
During Chilai Kalan, the temperatures across the Valley go considerably down and the chances of rains and snowfall happen to be maximum and frequent, while people put on extra layers of clothing to fight the bone-chilling cold.
Pheran, the traditional Kashmiri cloak, is mostly preferred by the people along with a kangri (a traditional firepot) to keep themselves warm.
Though Chilai Kalan ends at the end of January, it doesn’t mark the end of chill. Chilai Kalan is followed by a 20-day-long ‘Chilai Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chila Bachha’ (baby cold).
During this period, people use the already-stored dried vegetables, while tourists mainly throng the resort of Gulmarg in northern Kashmir to enjoy amid snowfall, especially on the eve of Christmas and New Year.
Meanwhile, a local meteorological department official said there are no chances of rains or snow till December 26.
He said the minimum temperature in Srinagar dipped to minus 4.8 degrees Celsius as compared to previous night’s minus 2.8 degrees in the past 24 hours. The sub-zero temperature resulted in partial freezing of Dal Lake in Srinagar and some water bodies elsewhere in the Valley.
Leh town recorded minus 14.7 degrees Celsius as against previous night’s minus 6.0 degrees Celsius, he said.
The minimum temperature in Pahalgam was minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, while it was slightly better in Gulmarg at minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, the official said.