Kangri beats modern gadgets during Kashmir’s harsh weather

Awantipora: When temperature dips to minus to freeze everything in Kashmir and seems that modern heating systems are not enough to cope up the harsh chill , Kangri, a traditional firepot  lies the only hope among Kashmiri people to keep warm themselves. 

Soon after the arrival of severe harsh winter months in Kashmir, people of the valley shift their attention to the Kangri, an earthen pot woven with wicker twigs designed by the professional craftsmen in every nook and corner of the valley.  The Kangri has the significant place in the culture and heritage of Kashmir with its own history of adaption.

Even though the availability of technological and innovative modern heating systems Kangri has still its existence in the Kashmir valley that has made it embedded in the everyday Kashmiri life.

“Despite the availability of modern heating appliances we still use Kangri to warm ourselves in the harsh winters as it is the part of our culture,” says Muhammad Saleem.

Not only the cultural proximity of Kangri but the technological dependence of these modern heating appliances compels Kashmiris to choose Kangri as a medium to avoid the winter chill.

Most of the modern heating devices are electricity dependent, and in Kashmir power cuts are common in winter so there is no other way to remain warm in those chilly days but to opt Kangri, adds Rayees Ahmad Wani.

There is no doubt that modern heating gadgets are available with varied features but somehow lack the portability features which only exists in the traditional firepots of Kashmir.

When everything freezes in harsh days of chilaikalan it becomes difficult to come out of homes without any heating arrangement and except Kangri there is not any such innovation which is portable, states Abdul Samad (65). Adding further he says, “Kangri is such an adorable innovation that we put under Phiran, the Kashmiri robe and move easily in severe chill where ever we wish and there is not any modern heating device to compete with the features of Kangri.”

Every year soon the month of October ends markets of Kashmir are observed with the gloomy innovated heating gadgets and fetching designed Kangris which marks the onset of winter in Kashmir. Where people from every nook and corner of the valley are seen on the showrooms to buy these modern heating appliances there the heavy rush of people remain abuzz in purchasing Kangris.

It is the harsh chill that keeps the Kashmiri culture alive and is the sole reason that people still use the traditional heating items in this modern era of technology. Using Kangris not only seeks common people to remain warm in cold weather but the artisans who are engaged with the job of weaving these Kangris continue their livelihood unabatedly.

Craftsmen weave varied designs of Kangris in order to attract most of the customers. In different parts of the Kashmir various kinds of Kangris are produced before the onset of winter to make its availability throughout the season. The famous designed Kangri is Chrari Kangir that comes from the town of Kashmirs revered Sufi saint Sheikh Noor Din Noorani, Chrari Sharief and the most durable Kangris are made in the Wandakpora village of Pulwama district, the village where once more than 80% population were engaged with this profession of weaving Kangris .

“Kangri weaving is our ancestral profession and there is not any fall in the usage of Kangris in Kashmir culture and we hope people will continue the usage of Kangris despite the availability of modern heating devices that is why we are still engaged with this sacred job,” says Mushtaq Ahmad (45), Kangri artisan from Wandakpora.

Adding further he says Kangri is nondependent of technology so it can be used continuously without any hindrances of technological breach that makes it unique device to get a satisfied warm as compared to other modern devices.

The obvious choice of Kashmiri people to use Kangri still in this technological era has extremely ingrained it to construct the powerful identity of Kashmir culture.