Chillai Kalan

About Chillai Kalan/Chillia Kalan

• Chillai Kalan is a Persian word which means Major Cold and it is the local name given to the 40 day period (starting from 21 December to January 29 every year) of harsh winter in Kashmir. 
• It is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold)  that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 2.
• Interestingly, as per Persian tradition, the night of 21st December is celebrated as Shab-e Yalda – “Night of Birth”, or Shab-e Cheleh – “Night of Forty”. 
• Iranian Azerbaijanis call it Chilla Gejasi, which marks the beginning of the first 40 days of winter.
• The first day of ‘Chillai kalan’ is to be celebrated as ‘World Pheran Day’.
• During this period use of Pheran (Kashmiri dress) and a traditional firing pot called Kanger increases.
• During Chillai-Kalan, the weather in Kashmir valley continues to remain dry and cold with minimum temperatures hovering below the freezing point and chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.
• 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.