Chillai kalan: The 40-day intense winter Festival in Kashmir Valley

Context: Kashmiris welcome ‘chillai kalan’ with cool pictures

• The 40-day intense winter period “chillai kalan” started in Kashmir valley with sub-zero night temperatures across the region.
• ‘Chillai kalan’, a local term for the 40-day period of harshest period that begins annually from December 21.
• In the Persian tradition, the night of December 21, the longest of the year, is celebrated as Shab-e-Yalda (night of birth) or Shab-e-Chelleh.
• The 40-day chillai kalan is followed by the ‘chillai khurd’ and ‘chillai bacha’, which sees a rise in day temperatures.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kashmiris-welcome-chillai-kalan-with-cool-pictures/article33386840.ece?homepage=true