Indian Antiquary Vol 14

SR No.: 032506
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 418
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 299

OCTOBER, 1895.)
THE KANGAR OR KANGRI.
265
THE KANGAROR KANGRI, THE KASMIRI PORTABLE BRAZIER.
BY THE REV. J. HINTON KNOWLES, F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S., etc., C.M.S., SRINAGAR. M HE kangar, as it is pronounced by the true whether asleep or awake, at work or at play,
1 Käśmiri, or küngri, as it is usually pro- sitting down or walking (of course I am speaknounced by the Pañjābi, or Kaśmîrî of Pañjabi ing of the winter months)- he has this little extraction, generally consists of two parts; the fireplace, held in one hand beneath his loose, inner earthenware vessel called kundal, wherein long, nightgown-like garment called phêran, in the fire is placed, and its encasement of wicker- immediate contact with his stomach and thighs. work, which is sometimes very pretty, being As will be expected, this very close familiarity tastefully ornamented with rings and brilliantly generally proves very dangerous. A person is coloured. A little wooden or silver spoon tripped up by a stone in the way and falls upon (tsulan), tied to the handle (kánjih) completes his red-hot kangar fire, or a child rolls in her this Oriental brazier, whicb may be purchased sleep and apsets the fireplace, burning herself, in any Kašmiri básár for the sum of one and the bedding, house, and everything. There and upwards, according to the make and size. are really very few of the wealthier, middle, or Should the kängar consist merely of an earthen
poorer class Kåśmiris, who at one time or an. Ware vessel a little ornamented, it is then other have not been more or less burnt from called a manan by the common folk. These are accidents with the kángar fire. used principally in the Leh and Ladakh direction. However, the kangar continnes more popular
The best kangars are said to be made in than ever, and not a few songs and sayings in Zainagar, a big village in the Kamráz district. its honour are extant in the valley. There is Islamabad, Tsrår, Shahâbâd, and Sopûr, are also no doubt that this portable brazier wards off noted for good kangars, which are frequently many a disense from the poor Kaśmiri, terribly named after the places where they are made; exposed, as he sometimes is, to bitter winds, e. g., Islamabâdi kangar, or- Tsrâri kangar, etc. freezing rains, and biting hail, for Winter now An ordinary peasant's kangar, very rudely made, and again makes Kaśmîr the centre of his is called gristi kangar,' while a finely-worked dominions, and rules supreme there. highly-coloured kängar used by the wealthier A story is told of a native doctor, who onco classes is called khoja kangar.
visited the valley to see what he could do for Kangars are to be met with also in the bázárs the poor people there during the severe winter of those cities and villages, whither oppression season. On reaching Barâmûlî, the place and famine have driven the Käśmiri. They where visitors change the horse, kahár, and have been heard of at Badrawah, Kashtawar, qult for the boats on their way into Kaśmir, Ramnagar, Bisauli, Nürpûr, Kangrâ, Amritsar, he noticed a boatman with only a loin-cloth on, Lúdians, and other places; but the kängars squatting in his boat in the cold wind and manufactured outside "the Happy Valley" eating some cold food. The doctor thought always seem to be of an inferior pattern and within himself that the man was mad, and that quality, and to be used by a very limited class he would certainly catch a chill and die. But indeed beyond the Káśmîrî emigrant com- the boatman had a kúngar between his knecs, munity.
and when the doctor on a closer observation The Kasmiri is very fond of his kangar, and saw this, he at once decided to return whence wherever he goes, whenever you see him, he came, saying: “The Kåśmiri people have
I have noticed this distinction in pronunciation in scores of Case, .g. K Asmirt lar, a house, Paüjabi-Kasmirf lari; Kasmiri, kurs, a chair, PanjAbf-Komtrl, kursf.
. Grust is the K&ómiri for a peasant.
3 khojia or khodja (Persian) means in Kasmirt a master. & gentleman, or man of some distinction.
This phéran is the chief garment worn by the Klý. mirt, male or female. As already noticed its shape is not unlike & stout nightgown, but with eleeves very often half-a-yard wide and two to three yards long. The women's sleeves are generally larger than the men's. The phérans are made in all colours and in all kinds of cloth, according to the position and sex of the purchasers. The
word phóran is manifestly derived from the Persian perahan, a loose vest, shirt.
* Bany houses are destroyed by fire every year in Sringar, the result of a careless use of the kangar; and Boores of patients are trated at the Mission Hospital for epithelioma, a kind of cancer generated from kunyar burns.
"O kangar, o kangar, offerings for thee. Thou art a virgin of paradise, thou art a fairy."
"If there is not the heat of fire in the bosom, one's precious lifo will undoubtedly come out"--and many others.