Cold Season In | India

Rohan noticed that everyone in the neighborhood was doing the same—wearing socks inside the house, covering their heads at night, and drinking warm water from a thermos.

“Beta,” his mother said, placing a warm palm on his forehead, “the cold season in India is beautiful, but it also brings uninvited guests—colds, coughs, and low energy. We need to welcome winter the right way.” cold season in india

Rohan understood. That week, instead of playing outside in the fog for hours, he read stories under a quilt. He washed his hands often. He sneezed into his elbow. And he noticed that his cold faded faster than usual—not just because of the medicines, but because the family had wrapped him in three warm blankets. Rohan noticed that everyone in the neighborhood was

Dadi brought out a steel pot. “In winter, our digestive fire is strong,” she explained. “So we eat foods that honor it.” She added ginger, turmeric, and black pepper to simmering milk. “This is haldi doodh ,” she said, handing Rohan a small cup. “It fights germs and soothes the throat.” That week, instead of playing outside in the

Rohan sipped his golden milk and felt a little better already.

“Kindness to yourself,” she replied. “Winter is a time for rest. In India, we rush less in December. We sleep a little longer. We share warmth with others—offer a blanket to the night guard, share gajak (sesame brittle) with neighbors, and help those who have no shelter.”

And every year after that, when winter arrived, Rohan’s family would say: “Don’t fight the cold—learn to wear it like a shawl. From the inside, outside, and deep in the heart.” And that’s how a little boy in Lucknow turned a sniffly December into the coziest, healthiest winter of his life.