Winter losing its bite over the years

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 18

The winter in Kashmir is synonymous with snow, freezing cold, dearth of essentials and disruption in connectivity.

Elders, however, believe that winter has lost its intensity over the decades due to low levels of snow. The landlocked Valley continues to rely on the snow reserves on high mountains which act as a source of water for drinking and irrigation during the summer months.

Though the winter has lost its severity, people in Kashmir have learned to fight the weather vagaries with modern gadgets. Apart from the commonly used ‘kangri’, ‘hamams’, indigenous heating system in affluent homes, continue to be used by people. In many areas, people still use ‘bukhari’, a heating appliance which works on firewood.

When a doctor in Bandipora town of north Kashmir made operational the ‘hamam’ in his newly constructed house in the mid 1980s, it was a moment for him to rejoice. He invited over half a dozen guests — most of them college teachers and a few doctors at his house for tea — elaborating on the expenses made and how it would help them brave the winter chill.

However, over the years, things have changed and more people are building ‘hamams’ in their homes.

Sometimes, building a ‘hamam’ comes as an afterthought to people. “We (usually) construct houses during the summer months and forget about the harshness of winter. When the winter comes, we realise the necessity of long-lasting heating systems,” said Naseema, a schoolteacher in Srinagar.

As people are increasingly constructing concrete houses instead of the old-style mud brick structures with wooden ceilings, they feel more requirement for heating appliances to keep them warm in winter.

“More people in the Valley are installing central heating systems in their houses. Looking at the comfort it provides throughout the winter, the cost is not much,” said Urfi Mustafa Shonthu of the Continental Heating and Air Conditioning System.

Shonthu’s company has been providing heating systems in the Valley since 1998. He says that while the traditional ‘hamam’ continues to be there, ‘kangri’ is the only option for the poor.

Unlike in the past, the Kashmir valley, apart from the harsh winter life, has also become synonymous with snow skiing and other winter games at Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Hundreds of skiers from outside the Valley converge on Gulmarg for the winter games every winter.

The life in the Valley’s plains has also changed drastically as people do not have to rely only on dried vegetables throughout winter. There is continuous supply of fresh vegetables from outside the Valley as the highway remains open and there are less blockades. Moreover, vegetables grown in greenhouses during winter are also readily available.

A number of factors are responsible for changing the lifestyle of Kashmiri people in winter.

 Low levels of snowfall, less severe weather   

• Elders believe that winter has lost its intensity over the decades due to low levels of snow.
• Though the winter has lost its severity, people in Kashmir have learned to fight the weather vagaries with modern gadgets. Apart from the commonly used kangri, hamams, indigenous heating system in affluent homes, continue to be used by people
• People do not have to rely only on dried vegetables throughout winter. There is continuous supply of fresh vegetables from outside the Valley