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

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3612×2408+0+0/resize/3612×2408!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2Fde%2F23417a4f4a4a99fedf62ef559c6a%2Fgettyimages-2201598571.jpg' alt='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)

This story originally appeared on NPR