In Kashmir, December 21 is said to mark the start of the 40 harshest days of winter. A woolen robe called a pheran is key to keeping warm — and a reminder of how to face and overcome hardships.
When I was growing up in Kashmir, my grandfather would hide me inside his pheran on the coldest days of winter. Bundled together beneath the loose woolen robe, he would tell me stories about Kashmir's Chillai Kalan — the 40 harshest days of the year ... [5136 chars]