What is Chilla-i-Kalan?
• Meaning: Chilla = forty; Kalan = major → “the major 40 days”
• Period: Roughly 21 December to 30 January
• Nature: Harshest winter phase in the Kashmir Valley
Weather features:
• Extremely low temperatures
• Frequent snowfall in higher reaches
• Frozen water bodies, icy roads, disrupted transport
Importance:
• Crucial for snow accumulation, which later feeds rivers and streams in spring
• High impact on daily life, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructureAfter Chilla-i-Kalan, two milder phases follow:
• Chilla-i-Khurd (20 days)
• Chilla-i-Bachha (10 days)
