Chillai Kalan—the mighty name in the Kashmiri lexicon. Just pronouncing it sends chills down the spine. A Persian term that has long found its way into Kashmiri culture and continues to spread fear among the locals. Lasting 40 days, its successors—Chillai Khurd and Chillai Bache—continue the harshness in the months that follow, extending the icy grip. Known for its severe weather, Chillai Kalan symbolizes survival and endurance. In Kashmir, where every season holds a different story, this season is remembered as one of resilience and a reminder of nature’s overwhelming dominance over life.

Chillai Kalan dips the mercury and plunges the temperature to freezing levels, transforming bustling streets into icy expanses. The snow blankets everything, concealing the pain and sorrow. Yet beneath the serene, snow-clad landscape lie untold stories of hardships that locals endure in these months, leaving behind indelible stains deep inside. I am in my thirties now. The first five years of my life were spent marveling at Kashmir’s beauty, but the next twenty-five were filled with questions about whether it was truly heaven or a realm of sorrow.

Foreigners praise the environment by calling each and every portion as heaven on earth, but to its people, it is a complex story. The harshness of Chillai Kalan gnaws at your very being, bringing aches and........

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