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Kangri: The fire-pot that keeps Kashmir warm

The traditional portable fire-pot in Indian-administered Kashmir keeps people warm during harsh winter months.

Kashmiri men harvest wicker sticks used in making kangris on the outskirts of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir. The kangri is a traditional fire-pot used by people to keep them warm during harsh winters.
By Abid Bhat
Published On 7 Jan 20147 Jan 2014
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The traditional kangri, fire-pot, in the Indian-administered Kashmir, keeps people warm during the severe winter months when temperature dips to as low as minus 20.

It is a portable and moving heater that Kashmiris keep in their pheran, a long woollen cloak reaching down to the knees worn by people during the frosty winters.

The kangri is earthenware filled with glowing embers and encased in pretty handmade wicker baskets and is carried as a personal warmer.

Manufacturing the kangri involves labour and local artisanal craftsmanship.

Twigs are collected from deciduous shrubs, scraped and peeled and go through a process of soaking, drying, dying and are finally woven around the bowl-shaped earthenware.

The earthenware is decorated with colourful threads, mirror-work and sequins and is about six inches (150 mm) in diametre.

Kangris can be ignited by just 250 grams of charcoal; it is cheaper than oil, gas and wood-fired heaters and costs from Rs 70 ($1.12) to Rs 1,500 ($24).

The traditional fire-pot is an effective and economical heating arrangement in the modern era when electronic heating gadgets are available.

In the absence of electricity or load-shedding, it does not disappoint people and keeps them warm in harsh winters.

The kangri remains an enduring emblem of local craft that is eco-friendly and cost effective.

Workers unloaded wicker sticks from a boat before boiling them to be used in making kangris.
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Wicker sticks being boiled to soften their skin in one of the many processes in making of kangris.
Kashmiri women peel wicker sticks on the outskirts of Srinagar.
A woman peels wicker sticks.
Bundle of wicker sticks kept in the open for drying. Manufacturing the kangri involves labour and local artisanal craftsmanship.
A potter makes an earthen pot used to store embers.
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Potter uses his fingers to shape earthen pot.
A Kashmiri man makes a kangri inside his shop in Srinagar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir.
A woman stacking dried earthen pots.
The kangri remains an enduring emblem of local craft that is eco-friendly and cost effective.
A beggar seeking alms with kangri on his side in Srinagar.
Kashmiri boatmen keep themselves warm with kangri after heavy snowfall at Dal lake in Srinagar.
Kashmiri men keep themselves warm with kangri during heavy snowfall in Srinagar.
A local trader warms himself with kangri outside his shop in Srinagar.
Drivers keep themselves warm with kangri at a bus stand in Srinagar.
A decorative kangri on display in a shop on the outskirts of Srinagar.


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