A kanger (; also known as kangri or kangid or kangir) is an earthen pot woven around with wicker filled with hot embers used by

Kashmiris Kashmiris () also known as Koshurs are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group speaking the Kashmiri language and originating from the Kashmir Valley, which is today located in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union terr ...

to keep the chill at bay, which is also regarded as a work of art. It is normally kept inside the

pheran Pheran () or Phiran is the traditional outfit for both males and females in Kashmir. The pheran consists of two gowns, one over the other. The traditional pheran extends to the feet, which was popular up to the late 19th century C.E. However, ...

, the Kashmiri cloak, or inside a blanket. It is mostly used in the cold nights of

Chillai Kalan ''Chillai Kalan'' or ''Chilla-i-Kalan'' ( , ) is the local name given to 40 day period of harsh winter in Kashmir. It is the coldest part of winter, starting from 21 December to January 29 every year. Chilla-i-Kalan is followed by 20-day long ''C ...

. If a person is wearing a jacket, it may be used as a

hand warmer Hand warmers are small, often disposable, packets that produce heat to warm cold hands. They are used throughout the world in a variety of ways, including outdoor recreation, manual labor, and homelessness. History The hand and foot warmer was ...

. It is about in diameter and reaches a temperature of about . It comes in different variants, small ones for children and large ones for adults.

Background

After the earthen pots are moulded and fired, the artisans complete the

wickerwork Wicker is a method of weaving used to make products such as furniture and baskets, as well as a descriptor to classify such products. It is the oldest furniture making method known to history, dating as far back as . Wicker was first documented ...

around them, by erecting two arms to handle the pot, propping the back side with strong wicker sticks, and colour it (optionally) to give an aesthetically delicate shape.

History

It is generally believed that Kashmiris learned the use of the ''kanger'' from the Italians who were in the retinue of the

Mughal emperor The emperors of the Mughal Empire, who were all members of the Timurid dynasty (House of Babur), ruled the empire from its inception on 21 April 1526 to its dissolution on 21 September 1857. They were supreme monarchs of the Mughal Empire in ...

s and usually visited the Valley during summer. In Italy (where a similar device was known as a
scaldino
') and Spain,

brazier A brazier () is a container used to burn charcoal or other solid fuel for cooking, heating or rituals. It often takes the form of a metal box or bowl with feet, but in some places it is made of terracotta. Its elevation helps circulate air, feed ...

s were made in a great variety of shapes and were profusely ornamented. Historical data, however, contradict the claim that ''kanger'' came to Kashmir from Italy, but it is known that it was used in the time of the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...

. Those visiting Kashmir for the first time during the winter season are surprised to find people carrying fire pots in their hands or in their laps but every Kashmiri knows how to handle the apparatus with care. It is a part of Kashmiri tradition and even in modern times it sees a huge demand, and is even used in public or private offices during winters.

Current use

Kanger are widely used in Kashmir. Its use is most prevalent in the countryside where power cuts during winters are frequent. Generally, everyone in the household has one. In some urban households, other devices, such as hot water bottles, blowers and electric blankets, have taken their place. Aromatic seeds, such as isband (

Peganum harmala ''Peganum harmala'', commonly called wild rue, Syrian rue, African rue, esfand or espand,Mahmoud OmidsalaEsfand: a common weed found in Persia, Central Asia, and the adjacent areasEncyclopædia Iranica Vol. VIII, Fasc. 6, pp. 583–584. Origina ...

), are often burnt in a kanger for ceremonial purposes. Beyond Kashmir, people of the erstwhile Hill states of Himachal, Uttarakhand, and some parts of Nepal also use other local variants of kanger. In 2015, a shopkeeper in

Srinagar Srinagar (; ) is a city in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary ...

commissioned a kanger, described as the world's largest, to attract customers to his textile shop. ''

Kashmir Life ''Kashmir Life'' is a weekly news magazine with an associated news website, published from Srinagar, the summer capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. History ''Kashmir Life'' was founded by late Jawahara Shawl in March 2009. The magazine is now o ...

'' reported that the size, over a metre long, posed technical challenges to the wicker-weavers.

Manufacturing

Kangeris are weaved by small scaled farmers known as kanile.

Charari Sharief Charari Sharief (also spelled Charar-i-Sharief; , known as Tsrar-i-Sharif ( or ) in Kashmiri is a town and a notified area committee in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The Assembly constituency is one of the 90 constitue ...

town is the most famous for a peculiar kind of kanger called "charar kangir".

Anantnag Anantnag ( ; ), also called Islamabad ( ; ), is the administrative headquarters of Anantnag district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.The application of the term "admi ...

is also another major producer. The sector is not organized but is covered under different government schemes.

Popular culture

This Kashmiri proverb, "what Laila was on Majnun’s bosom (Legendary Lovers), so is the Kanger to a Kashmiri", sums up the relationship between a Kashmiri and the Kanger and its cultural importance, which is also shown by this verse: :''Ai kangri! ai kangri!'' :''Kurban tu Hour wu Peri!'' :''Chun dur bughul mi girimut'' :''Durd az dil mi buree.'' :''(Oh, kangri! oh, kangri!'' :''You are the gift of Houris and Fairies;'' :''When I take you under my arm'' :''You drive fear from my heart.)''

Medical hazards

Regular use of the kanger can cause a specific skin cancer known as

kangri cancer Kangri cancer is a type of squamous-cell carcinoma of the skin. It is found only in Kashmir in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent. It occurs on the lower abdomen and inner thighs and is due to the use of a Kanger, a ceramic pot covered with ...

. This effect was first studied by W. J. Elmslie in 1866 and was thought to be caused by burns, but it is now thought to be the result of a carcinogenic distillation product of woodcoal.

World Kangri Day

The tourism department of

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Azad Jammu and Kashmir (), abbreviated as AJK and colloquially referred to as simply Azad Kashmir ( ), is a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entitySee: * * * and constituting the western portion of the larger ...

(AJK) has finalised to celebrate '

Pheran Pheran () or Phiran is the traditional outfit for both males and females in Kashmir. The pheran consists of two gowns, one over the other. The traditional pheran extends to the feet, which was popular up to the late 19th century C.E. However, ...

and Kangri Day’ on Feb 19 to promote Kashmiri culture.

References

{{Jammu and Kashmir Culture of Jammu and Kashmir Kashmiri culture Heating