Winter Start In India ((free)) May 2026

This is the start of winter. It is the season of sukha (dryness) and shitalata (coolness). It is the season the body has been begging for. To write about the start of winter in India is to write about two entirely different countries.

In the kitchens of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, the sarson ka saag (mustard greens) is ready. In Delhi, the nihari (slow-cooked stew) vendors reappear on street corners. In the south, the pongal becomes pepperier. In every home, the adrak wali chai (ginger tea) gets a double dose of ginger. winter start in india

Winter starts with a battle. It is the season of smog . The beautiful, golden light is often filtered through a thick blanket of farm fires and vehicular emissions. The start of winter here is visually stunning but physically treacherous. You wake up to fog so dense it feels like a solid wall. The chill doesn't just sit on your skin; it seeps into your bones. It is the season of the sigdi (coal brazier), of thick razais (quilts) that you dread leaving in the morning, and of the ritualistic application of mustard oil on the skin before a bath. This is the start of winter