Rayees Ahmad Kumar
It is almost a month since the harshest period of Chillai-kalan has knocked the doors of valley. Perhaps after decades we are witnessing the warm sunny days and snowless Chillai-kalan in valley which is anticipated to annoy the people associated with tourism and agricultural sector in coming season.
Previously this period would wrap the entire landscape with thick blanket of white snow and lofty snow-clad mountains would attract and lure a big chunk of foreign skiers and skaters. Hanging long conical icicles from the roofs of houses and dead branches of plants would further enhance the charm and beauty of this Himalayan region. Foggy airs and frosty mornings would almost imprison our children and weak and enfeebled people in their own homes. Electricity would remain disrupted for days together, roads from villages to district headquarters too would be blocked in view of heavy snowfalls and many sick and expecting mothers find it extremely difficult to reach hospitals in time.
In these tough times our children would often take pleasure in minimising the friction of snowy slopes to make it slippery, wearing polythene sheets and then sliding on snow from afternoon to dusk time. They would also make dense spherical hard snow balls and through them towards one another and in the bed time their grandparents especially grandmothers would tell them some folktales and traditional stories about their past. In such testing times the people would completely rely on sun-dried vegetables because due to national highway closure for days together, we would experience a shortage and scarcity of essential commodities.
Major and heavy snowfall would invite skiers and skaters from across the globe to our world famous winter tourism health resorts like Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg thus strengthening our economy and bringing a smile on the faces of our working and labour class who anxiously await for their arrival. Amidst the dancing fall of haxaganol snowflakes, young and energetic non-local visitors used to spend their time in our hill stations, enjoying by beating the chill taking selfies through their cellphones and staying in luxurious hotels. However Kashmir known for it’s enchanting winter vistas, is currently experiencing an unusual weather phenomenon a snowless Chillai-kalan. It has cast a dark shadow over valley’s fruit industry, raising serious concerns within the valley.
Absence of snow coupled with erratic weather conditions poses a significant threat to the thriving fruit industry. Currently we don’t enjoy the mesmerizing sights of snowy landscape in absence of snow, tourists who earlier would eagerly wait to make their entry in valley too feel annoyed and our children who previously would engage in winter games are now busy everywhere in playing cricket and other games. Though the temperature has dipped to a record -6 degrees across whole valley, the absence of snowy scenes are hurting us most and we anxiously crave for the seasons first snowfall. Even our higher reaches also feel somewhat thirsty which previously would add to the charm of mountainous region. Children have almost forgotten to play snow games and their tilt nowadays is towards traditional outdoor games.
In absence of snow and required rainfall, not only the farming and horticulture community is at loss but there will be an imminent shortage of drinking water too. Our perennial rivers and streams are fed through the slow melting glaciers of high altitudes. Since Chillai-kalan has been unkind to us in terms of no snow and rainfall, there are least chances of a good agricultural and horticulture season as both the sectors are fully dependent on blessings of snow and rain. Climatologists attribute abnormal weather behaviour to climate change and other human made phenomenon like global warming and varied pollutions.
Winter tourism has already been at all time loss this year in view of long spell of dry weather and currently there are bleak chances of a moderate or heavy snowfall, in such conditions the catastrophic impacts are more likely.
In view of these gloomy weather conditions, preachers from all over the valley cutting across sectarian lines have organised special prayers ‘Istiska’ in open grounds with the intent to please Almighty and repent for their sins. Centuries old traditional legacy of preparing a special feast called Sas-Ras to get rid of the long dry weather spell has also been initiated in many parts of valley. City’s famed Makah market, Batamallo and in rural areas also people are seen preparing the dish on large scales and then distributing among the passerby. On the occasion of congregational Friday prayers also, special invocations are held in Mosques to seek an end of the long dry spell.
Our mountains and other hilly regions are turning snowless, rivers are experiencing a record low water level and tubewells are drying up. In such conditions one can’t expect an easy living in the coming season if the dry spell continues to haunt us. Shikara and houseboats of Srinagar which earlier would be floating on rich and abundant waters are presently seen static on hard and dry chapped muddy surfaces.
Elderly, youth and children are equally bothered about the prevailing unusual weather conditions of the valley who anxiously crave for the first glimpse of snowflake dancing fall. Rising day temperatures and sunny weather conditions though pleasing to us presently, are likely to prove disastrous in the coming season. The scarcity of water would reduce the agricultural produce and shortage of drinking water is likely to add people’s woes.
Entire valley shivers amidst dry spell bringing plunging night temperatures and men, women and children all are seen rushing towards hospitals due to annoying weather conditions which have made people sick who often complain about respiratory and gastro problems. It is believed that if the dry spell ends very soon, health related problems would no more be an issue. So we the people of valley are praying for an urgent heavy snowfall which can infuse new life to the dead plants and soil and would likely bring a happy smile on the faces of inhabitants who wholly and solely depend on rain and snow.
(The is a columnist hailing from Qazigund area of north Kashmir and can be reached at [email protected])
