Srinagar, Dec 13: As Aamir Khusro an Indo-Persian Sufi poet rightly said “Gar firdous bar rue-e Zameen ast, hameen ast-o hameen ast-o hameen ast” (If there is a heaven on earth, it’s here, it’s here, it’s here). Hence Kashmir is the beauty on earth and it’s beauty intensifies in the winter season as in the winters the whole Kashmir gets converted into a white carpeted paradise. The temperature in Kashmir dips several degrees below zero from December and lasts till March. Kashmir has winters for five consecutive months but the coldest are the forty days from 21 December to 31 January known as ‘Chillai Kalan’. There are a number of swaps in the lifestyle of the people during winters in Kashmir to fit the climatic changes and alter to the winter weather and keep themselves cosy. Since time immemorial three things that Kashmiri people use to keep themselves warm are briefed as under:
Hamam:
Although the first Hamams originated in Arabia, and bath culture was a central part of Roman life. Turkey popularized the tradition by making Hamams available to people of all statuses.
Hamam is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by the Mughals. A typical Kashmiri Hamam is a room with a hollow base for burning fire wood which has a thick, hand-hewn rectangular slabs of limestone laid over it which provides heat. The original form of Hamam was also prevalent here in Kashmir in the form of community baths. Now Hamam in Kashmir has changed it’s form and shape, but the fundamental features remain the same. It also ensures the supply of hot water through an attached copper tank called ‘Khazane’ in Kashmiri language.
The valley of Kashmir being located at a higher altitude, surrounded by Himalayan ranges has a much colder climate especially during winters and Hamam can surely be the solution to keep the chill at bay.
Every mosque has one Hamam. Initially it was restricted to mosques, then barbers opened three Hamams in the city. Now almost every newly made house features a Hamam.
The stone carver, Manzoor Ahmad said, “Right now we get a highest demand of Hamam stones and it is increasing day by day”.
They are happy as they earn a good profit out of it with the increasing demand for these stones.
Another stone carver Abdul Masjid told about its procedure “We prepare the stones according to the size of the room that the customers tell us within a given period of time”.
The concept of Hamam is becoming more and more popular among Kashmiri people as it provides snugness and comfort in harsh Kashmiri winter.
Hamams are also a healthy alternative to gas and coal heaters which are silent killers. Hamams are a one time investment, cost effective and to top everything it does not depend on electricity.
Kangri:
The kangri or kanger as it is locally known, is an earthen pot woven around with wicker and having two handles so that it can be carried easily is filled with embers and held against the body beneath the clothes and blankets to keep the body warm in winter. It stays hot for 7 to 8 hours. It’s like a portable and movable heater that keeps warm in the freezing winter.
In Kashmir, using of kangri is an old and traditional method of keeping warm during the winter. It is a part of the Kashmiri tradition without it, the harsh winter becomes more difficult.
Kangri making is a cottage industry providing employment to numerous men as well as women.
A local resident, Saqlain Ahmad said, “Kangri is the most important thing in Kashmir during winters. It is impossible to stay indoors during winters without a Kangri”.
“Kangris still have a great demand in Kashmir, I sell more than 20 kangris per day”, Rafiq Ahmad Bhat, a Kangri seller said. “Depending on the design, each kangri costs between ₹200 to ₹2,000. But the kangris which are mostly used costs around an affordable price between ₹200 to ₹400”, he added.
The best and the costliest Kangri is known as ‘Charar Kangri’ as it is manufactured in Charar town, which is at a distance of 31.7 km from Srinagar has thin twigs woven around in an earthen pot and the outer encasement may at times be very beautiful with its ornaments of rings using different bright colours of wickers which makes charar Kangri different from those manufactured in other parts of the valley.
Kangri is not only used as a fire to beat the cold but it also holds an important value in Kashmiri culture as no occasion is celebrated without the presence of Kangri.
For instance, parents give a specially designed Kangri to their daughter in the first winter after her wedding. Though Kangri is still being used in Kashmir in both rural as well as urban areas as they are also one of the alternative to electric and gas heaters.
Kashmiri people cherish the Kangri as a symbol of culture and traditions of their mother-land. Kashmiris also use well designed Kangris as censer to burn aromatic seeds firings wedding and special functions especially when the guests arrive.
Bukhari:
A Bukhari is a traditional space heater from central Asia which is typically a wood-burning stove.
Bukharis consist of a wide tin cylindrical fire chamber at the base in which wood, charcoal or other fuel is burnt and these Bukharis have a pipe going out through the window for smoke. These are quite affordable, efficient and get heated up quickly.
Hence Bukhari is a useful tool to fight against the bitter cold in Kashmir during the harsh winters.
The houses have Bukharis in them to keep warm. Bukharis are also used in houseboats, some hotels, huts, restaurants etc to produce warmth.
Traditionally Bukharis are of three kinds: Wood burning, such is the original type then the coal burning and third the saw dust burning.
The coal one is the hottest but it comes with the danger of asphyxiation. The wood one is the second hottest but it needs the constant supply of wood and last but not the least is the most popular, the saw dust one is mostly used as if is most convenient though heat generation is less as compared to the other two.
Mohammad Yousuf, a local resident said, “Bhukari is one of the cheapest form of heater to fight the chilly winter, I have a one at home and it generates a good heat”.
Some Bukharis have now also been modified into modern Bukharis.
Mohammad Rafiq Ahangar, resident of Anantnag, has inovated a Bukhari based on the Turkish style.
“My main aim of transforming traditional Bukhari into a Turkish one was that it should be affordable for every person to buy it. With the help of this Turkish Bukhari a room gets heated up within 5 minutes and is cheaper than the traditional one”, said Rafiq.
Hence Bukhari also plays an important role during the harsh phase of winters in Kashmir by giving warmth and keeping the chill away.
