Kashmiris gear up for cold season with warm clothes, firewood, and traditional hamams

Umar Raina
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13 Nov 2025

Srinagar, Nov 12: As the chill of early winter sweeps through the Kashmir Valley, residents have begun their age-old preparations to face the harsh cold months ahead. The onset of November signals the transition into the valley’s long winter season, prompting people to stock up on essentials like warm clothes, blankets, and firewood. Across cities, towns, and remote villages, a familiar scene unfolds people busy insulating their homes and readying traditional Hamams to fight the dropping temperatures.

In the mornings, the fog drifts slowly over the Jhelum River and Dal Lake, and the once gushing streams of summer now run low, marking the gradual decline in water levels that always accompanies the onset of winter. Farmers, who just completed the harvest season are now stacking hay and preparing for the months when the land lies frozen and fields rest in silence.

Firewood, a vital part of Kashmir’s winter life, is being collected and stored in courtyards and storehouses. In rural areas, stacks of kikar, poplar, and willow wood can be seen piled neatly, ready to feed stoves and Hamams. For many families, firewood remains the most reliable source of heat during the sub-zero nights that define the coming Chillai Kalan the harshest 40-day period of winter that begins in late December.

In urban households, especially in old Srinagar and parts of north and central Kashmir, the traditional Hamam, a room with a thick stone floor heated by fire from below, remains an essential feature. Built generations ago, Hamams are considered not just a heating system but a cultural legacy that has stood the test of time. Nothing warms a home like a Hamam, says Abdul Rashid, a resident of Srinagar. Even with electric heaters available, we still rely on the Hamam for both warmth and comfort.

Meanwhile, tailors and shopkeepers across the valley report a surge in customers as people rush to buy woollen clothes, pherans, and quilts. Street vendors can be seen selling woollen caps, gloves, and socks, while markets such as Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Ganderbal market, and Anantnag’s main bazaar remain abuzz with winter shoppers.

The decline in water levels in rivers and streams has also become a seasonal reminder of the environmental changes that accompany winter.

Authorities have also begun inspecting power infrastructure and fuel depots to ensure steady electricity and heating supplies. However, frequent power cuts remain a persistent concern for residents, especially in far-flung areas. “Electricity is erratic in our area, so we depend mostly on firewood and gas for heating,” says Mehmooda from Ganderbal.

Tourists, too, have started arriving to witness Kashmir’s famous winter charm from snow-clad landscapes to the warmth of Kashmiri hospitality. With Gulmarg preparing for the upcoming winter season, and Pahalgam and Sonamarg expected to receive early snow, the winter also promises to bring life to the valley’s tourism sector.