On winter's coldest days, this classic Kashmiri coat offers warmth — and wisdom

A man carries a child in his Kashmiri pheran, a traditional winter coat that gives warmth during the coldest days of winter. A pot of embers carried beneath the fabric adds to the comfort.

In Kashmir, December 21 is said to mark the start of the 40 harshest days of winter. A woolen robe called a pheran is key to keeping warm — and a reminder of how to face and overcome hardships.

(Image credit: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP)