The traditional kanger fire-pot is Kashmir’s preferred way to keep warm ,modern gadgets are thought to be more expensive and unreliable.
The kanger is a portable heater: it’s filled with burning charcoal and tucked inside woolen pherans, the voluminous and long cloaks so distinctive of the Valley.
People accustomed to using kangers can hold on to them through the night without spilling the coal, others spill their kangers even during the day. In the cold months, guests are presented with kangers even before they are served tea. It’s used to roast potatoes and nuts, or warm oranges.
But it’s more than just a handy heater. The kanger has seeped so deep into the Valley’s culture, Kashmiris find in it an expression of kindness, love, and anger.
Photos taken by Basharat Akhoon
