Netizens welcome harshest winter period with jokes on ‘Chillai Kalan’

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 22

Even as winter months in the Kashmir valley are synonymous with hardships faced on account of day-to-day issues, “Chillai Kalan” nevertheless has tickled the funny bone of the netizens.

Chillai Kalan is the harshest winter period. However, for the past two days, jokes on Chillai Kalan have been doing the rounds on social networking websites.

“40-day campaigning of Chillai Kalan starts. Security has been beefed up across the Kashmir valley.... People are advised to keep Kangris (earthen fire pots) along during the campaigning to avoid any incident of freezing like ice cream,” wrote Shahid Dar on Facebook.

Some jokes referred snow fights as “snow pelting” and pointed to the government’s concerns given the expected complaints and protests over lack of basic amenities.

“Chillai Kalan is on a special visit to Kashmir for 40 days. People are protesting against his arrival in many parts of the Valley…his special gifts for the people are shivering, cold, rain and snow and particularly frost civil curfew. Snow pelting is soon going to start to the presence of Chillai Kalan. Govt concerned over the serious issue,” wrote Shuja Ahmad on Facebook.

Some also shared cartoons where a man representing Chillai Kalan was seen taking an oath as the “Prime Minister of J&K”.