Kashmir’s vanishing winter: How climate change is pushing the kangri tradition to the brink

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Srinagar: On a rare, sun-drenched January afternoon in Kashmir, when the land is usually buried under a thick layer of snow and ice, two shopkeepers—Shahnawaz and Huzaif—stood outside their stores in Srinagar, soaking in the unseasonal warmth. The bone-chilling grip of Chillai Kalan, the 40-day period of harsh winter, typically stretching from 21 December to 31 January, that defines life in the Valley, felt like a distant memory.

Instead of bracing against the cold, people were embracing the sun—an unusual sight for this time of year. For two consecutive years, Kashmir has experienced alomost snowless winters, leaving people to abandon the warmth of the kangri—a portable fire pot wrapped in a delicate weave of twigs. Once a winter staple, the kangri is slowly fading from daily life as Kashmiris turn to the sun rather than embers for warmth.

Read this | Kashmir tourism is on thin ice amid a second straight snowless winter The kangri, known locally as kanged or kangir, is a centuries-old traditional heater filled with charcoal embers, carried inside the pheran, a woollen cloak worn to combat the harsh cold. Its production follows an age-old cycle—during harud (autumn), rural communities make charcoal from dried leaves and twigs, which is then transported to towns and cities, where it sells for ₹500 to ₹700 per bag. Charcoal quality dictates the price, with almond-shell charcoal being the most expensive due to its ability to sustain warmth for up to two days.

But as Kashmir’s winters grow milder, kangri artisans face an existential crisis. Once an essential winter companion, the kangri is now struggling for relevance. Kangri weavers across the Valley report a sharp drop in sales since