By Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander
“What Laila was on Majnoo’s bosom, so is kangri to a Kashmiri”wrote Walter R. Lawrence in his book.
ORIGIN: It has been suggested that the Kashmiris learnt the use of Kangri from the Italians in the retinue of the Mughal emperors, who usually visited the Valley during summer months. But historical data contradicts the claim that Kangri has come to Kashmir from Italy. Kang’r, as Kashmiris call it, has been in general use in Kashmir since early times.
According to Sir Aurel Stein, Kang’r name is in all probability derived from Sanskrit, Kasthangarika (Kashwood)+Angarika (Fire embers). Earliest references to Kangri are found in Mankha’s Sri Kanthcharitam and Kalhana’s Rajatarangini. Mankha describes it as ‘hasantika’, i.e. a pot that could be carried in hand. He says it was in regular use in his times.
Kang’r has fascinated European travellers too. Bernier, Moorcraft, Hugel Vigne and others have all noted the unique importance that Kangri holds in the life of an average Kashmiri. J.Hinton Knowles, the distinguished student on Kashmir’s folk lore wrote in detail on Kang’r.
A kangir is made up of two parts. The outer part is an encasement of wicker. Inside, there is an earthen bowl-shaped pot called a kundal. In Sanskrit Kundala means ring. The outer encasement of wicker-work may at times be very pretty with its ornamentation of rings and brilliant colouring. A simple protective covering ensheathed over the upper portion of wickerwork is called Woluhd. Tsalan is a little wooden or metal (Iron or Silver) looks like a small ‘cake server’ and is used to turn the fire embers (Wokhul) in order to increase the heat. It is usually tied to a round wicker hook on the back of the kangri.
Wicker work is an important industry in Kashmir and it generates a lot of income and is a source of livelihood for a large number of people. But due to mindless deforestation and the apathy of Jammu and Kashmir government towards the plight of wicker work artisans, the industry is on the brink of extinction, claim kangri artisans.
Kangris on the basis of their production and designs are divided into various categories such as Chare-Kangir, Bandepore Kangri, Islambade Kangir all deriving their names from the places where they are produced. These places are known and noted for Kangris. The crudely made Kangri, used by peasants has a bigger Kundal and is known as Graes Kangri (Rural Kan’gr or Poor man’s Kan’gr ). The finely worked and coloured ones are known as the Khoja Kang’r (Rich man’s Kan’gr).
The fuel used in Kangris is charcoal from Pohu wood and Chinar leaves during autumn the peasants living near forests prepare them.These then fetch a good price in cities and towns.
The Kangr is given as a bridal gift by the parents of the bride to their newly wed daughter. Most people wear Phiren in winter. They keep Kangri under it and do their normal work without any hinderance. Young boys and girls use Kangris to roast Potatoes, Eggs and Singharas. Many people at night can easily take it inside their quilts. Due to this careless habit many houses are destroyed by fire every year in Srinagar and villages, when during the deep sleep Kangri turns turtle or overturns, resulting in fire.
Kangri makes a person lazy and scores of patients are treated at hospitals for epithelioma, a kind of cancer generated from Kangri burns, though its use aids digestion as an external heater for the stomach during winter. Some people have claimed that Kangris were imposed on Kashmiris by alien monarchs to reduce their proud spirit. Kangri is also called “Snow Queen” of Kashmir is also used in street quarrels by Kashmiris. They throw Kangris full of fire on each other sometimes it may result in serious accident.
Now-a-days Kangris are giving place to room heaters, gas or thermal heaters as the preparation of a Kangri costs a good deal of time and due to its disadvantages some of the elite have shunned its use. But nobody can deny the fact that Kangri is a part and parcel of Kashmiri people during Chilla Kalan (Coldest Part Of Winter) when the temperature drops several degrees below zero with a snow blanket all around and when no cloth can offer any defence against the freezing winter. Also, the advanced gadgets for fighting winter frequently become useless as they opt on electricity or gasoline and both of them are rare and scarce during the winter when the whole Valley is plunged in pitch darkness due to the breakup of supply lines by heavy snowfall and the Valley is cut off from the rest of world because the Jawahar Tunnel becomes non-motorable due to heavy snow avalanches, blocking the supply of gasoline to the Valley.
In these circumstances Kangri is the only great weapon to fight the chill accompanied by winter. So enjoy this winter once again in the Kan’gr Company.
(Originally published in the Kashmir Times on January 10, 2010)
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