Srinagar, Dec 21 (KNO): Chillai-Kalan, a 40-day harshest winter period, commenced with an intense cold wave conditions as Srinagar has recorded the coldest night of December in the last over two decades.
After 1990, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the coldest night in the month of December at minus 8.5 degree Celsius, which is the third lowest December temperature ever recorded in Srinagar in the last 133 years.
As per the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shopian in South Kashmir recorded a low of minus 10.4 degree Celsius while Anantnag recorded minus 10.5 degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature at Pulwama settled at minus 10.3 degree Celsius while in Kulgam it settled at minus 6.8 degree Celsius.
Pertinently, the harshest winter period commenced today (December 21) and culminates on January 31 next year, which is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) which begins from February 20 to March 2.
Notably, Chillai-Kalan is a Persian word which means “Major Cold”—(KNO)