The people of this landlocked valley in Lahaul and Spiti district remain cut off from the rest of the world for more than five months every year, owing to heavy snowfall. Keylong, the district headquarters, is 200 km from the popular hill station of Manali.

Getting here in winter is not easy as the once-a-week helicopter service is the only mode of transportation for locals which is reserved for government employees most of the time. But the locals are unperturbed.

Sonam Negi, a resident, said," This is the best period in our life when we only relax, celebrate and enjoy. It really offers a break from the routine like tilling land and collecting fodder and wood."

He said," We work for six months (from May to October) and relax for the remaining six months. During the summers, we toil hard. The land has to be cultivated and sown and then the produce has to be sent to the market within the 'open' season. We also store ration and fodder for winters."

The climatic conditions of the district are harsh as much of the land falls under a cold desert where the mercury drops below minus 20 degrees Celsius.

The valley's seed potatoes are in great demand in states like West Bengal, Bihar and Karnataka and the Lahaulis, as the local people are called, are mostly farmers.

Most of the men folk begin and even end their day with the consumption of 'arah', local liquor extracted from barley.

"Even the birth of a child and marriage in a family is a grand affair during winters," said Suresh Kumar Kardo of Kardang, a village opposite Keylong.

He further said," If the child is born or wedding is solemnized in summers, the celebrations are held in winters. The entire village gathers and celebrates. Such celebrations continue for days together."

"We have developed our own ways to pass time. We usually stitch clothes and knit woolens for the next winter or visit friends and relatives. During summers, we do not have much time to socialize as we are busy tilling land or taking care of livestock," said Octogenarian Dolma of Jispa, who has spent her entire life in the village. (With Input from Agencies)