"Contest Alert !!! || "Are You Ready For Winters".

Try not to fall in fall season.

Do you like winter? If yes, then share your thoughts with us. Also, tell us about the range of temperature in different regions of your country during winter.

Who doesn't like winters? Only those who are afraid of cold showers preferably. Fortunately, I'm not one of those who wrap themselves up under layers of warm clothes even during full peak days of winter. I enjoy winters which is possible when you actually feel cold.

Winter is the time of the year when I can enjoy reading books and a cup of coffee or tea.

^{got it from archive of 2020}

Another thing that makes me fall for fall is no sweat anymore. I can try out dishes and bake cakes in the kitchen without having to worry about the scorching heat that feels coming straight from hell.

However, the cold wind was no less than torture when you had to go to the university. By the time I could reach university, my legs and arms would identify themselves as wood sticks.

My primary reason to like winters is to enjoy the ride in the open air early in the morning with trees on both sides of the road, thick fog wrapping everything in mist, and dew drops falling on you.

I may dislike winter for the fact that you can't move you fingers due to cold while writing. My hands and feet become super cold and I am not a disloyal person ok?

January is the coldest month in my country. During this time you can't stay without any heater or wood stove. Planning any outdoor activity is out of the question paper.

In the foggy morning, the temperature drops to 2-4C in Punjab where I live.
It goes below 0 in northern areas of the country.

However, we have witnessed extreme cold weather for the last two years in January. If the condition doesn't change we may see snowfall in Punjab soon. Which is no less than a miracle and not possible practically.

What type of dresses do the people of your country wear to keep themselves warm in the cozy weather?

As I live in Punjab, most men and women cover themselves with warm shawls, sweaters, hoodies, and socks.

I rarely wear sweaters because I'm a warm-blooded animal:p
But I'm the one who sits close to heaters. Do you get my point?

In villages, men are seen all wrapped up in blankets too. They walk around as if they aren't ready to leave the warmth of their beds. Lol. A really funny sight.

Men sit in the corners of the streets in the form of a group around the fire of wood and chat and enjoy tea.

A fancy bonfire of burgers is the everyday affair of country people.

Another thing to dimish cold is hukkah aka pipe cigarette which is still common here.

When it comes to women, they are always ready to cook food in the kitchen and iron their clothes to warm up their bodies. These are the same people who would rather faint than do these chores. I'm talking about myself. No offense to anyone.

Ok honestly, women also keep litting wood sticks from Zohar till Isha prayer.

^{Now you may think country people are responsible for the ongoing smog crisis. In our defense, it's the transport and industrial smoke behind it.}

When anyone goes to take a shower, someone else lits fire for him/her to sit around afterwards.
It's a norm to keep burning coal in the house to warm up those who come from school and university.

^{in relationship with it}

Do you know what we do around bonfire?

We gossip. All of our family members gather around it because electricity is way too costly to turn on heaters all day. And gas rarely comes.

So we sit and eat peanut(it's more tasty with its shell, I didn't eat it promise, just heard about it🤫).

We also roast potatoes under the ashes of the wood and eat them with salt and chat masala.

To keep ourselves warm, we drink tea frequently. Once gas didn't show up, we had to cook and make tea on the earth stove. It was the best day ever.

We were hungry and had to wait a bit longer for the food.

But trust me, that food turned out the yummiest food ever. Maybe it was cooked organically or it was our patience whose fruit was sweet.

^{pawri ho rhi hai}

Are there any special dishes and drinks prepared in your country during the winter season? Tell us about them.

Winter special food is makki ki rotti and sarsun ka saag. I would eat it every day if I am not allergic.

We made saag earlier than usual last year in November and got an allergy. It is meant to be eaten on foggy days for people like us.

Another winter special food is:

• Pinni (flaxseed ladu)
• Besan (gramflour sweet)

Both of these foods are highly nutritional and made in a purely organic way at home in desi ghee (organic fat).
The addition of dry fruits makes them everyone's favorite.

^{pinni/flaxseed ladu}

^Besan

We make pinni with Brown sugar (gur ) and besan with white sugar. Therefore, I like to eat pinni more than besan.

• People who are old and have joint pain due to colds should add these two sweets to their snacks.

• But be aware, that pinni can only be eaten during foggy days due to its warm properties.

Pink tea/Kashmiri tea is another interesting drink that is more common at winter weddings along with gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding).

My nano used to make gajar halwa at first and would place it on the dining table instead of the refrigerator. It meant to eat it your heart's delight.

That was the best winter food I had had in my childhood by my late nano. We used to have tea along with sohan halwa also with my maternal side family.

Purchasing boiled eggs from the local salesman was the only way of eating boiled eggs and diminishing cold. Now he doesn't come anymore and winters are the hardest since then.

Also don't forget to take your vitamin C dose through Oranges be it yours or stolen

What changes do you make to your skincare or health routine to adapt to the colder weather?

The only skincare routine i follow during winter is to apply Vaseline on my feet and wear socks.

Occasional hair oiling is a big yes too. Since we aren't having sunny winters, the idea of hair oiling with vitamin D dose is also reducing from my routine.

There is nothing fancy here, I use coconut oil on my hands and face as a lotion. Because I have an allergy to any product with scent and I don't like the smell of baby lotion.

In short, I am deprived of good scented products:(

Is there any tourist spot in your country that you would like to visit this winter? Why is it special to you?

The only tourist spot in winter for me is where I can walk. I like walking early in the foggy morning when I barely see any humans in the surroundings due to the cold.

This idea is very fascinating to me because I am exploring cold nature when no one dares to peek-a-boo out of their blanket.

There is a colony near my grandpa's home which is the finest to walk. Whenever I visit them, I go for a walk with my aunt who is also a walk enthusiast.

Now you can't distinguish between fog and smog so it's better to stay indoors instead of getting sick with sore throat, headaches, and burning nose and eyes.

Wishing you happy winters without flue this year @abdullahw2

Would you like to share your side of winter stories, @ibesso @emeh123 @junaidahmed.