Rain, Cold, and the Call of ‘Yakhni’

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Peshawar: As a cold wave tightens its grip on Peshawar amid intermittent rains on Sunday, warmth arrives not from heaters alone but from steaming bowls of chicken ‘yakhni’ and chicken corn soup—winter staples that stir both comfort and nostalgia among residents.

With temperatures dipping due to torrential rains, soup and ‘yakhni’ stalls across Peshawar’s city and cantonment areas come alive in the evenings. Vendors ladle hot broth into outstretched bowls as customers gather to beat the biting cold. Many ask for boiled eggs to be added—a popular winter indulgence that makes the dish richer and more filling.

For Umar Khan, a 30-year-old soup seller at Pabbi Bazaar, winter is more than a season; it is a livelihood for sellers of traditional winter cuisines.

“I leave home around 4 p.m. with 12 kilograms of soup and ‘yakhni’ prepared from 20 desi chickens,” he says. “By 8 p.m., everything is sold out. Demand has shot up as rain sets in.”

As he speaks, Umar directs a helper serving eager customers, their breath visible in the chilly air. The scene is a familiar winter ritual in Peshawar, where people huddle around soup stalls, sharing bowls, stories, and the day’s affairs.

The aroma of native chicken, ghee, and special sauces hangs thick in the air, drawing customers of all ages. Many settle onto traditional charpayees, especially in historic areas like Qissa Khwani Bazaar, where soup becomes more than food—it becomes a social glue.

“This recipe came from my grandfather before Partition,” Umar says with pride. “We use desi chicken and pure ghee. That’s what gives it its unique taste. The sauces add flavour, but the warmth comes from tradition.”

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December and January are peak months for these winter cuisines. “These days, soup sells like hotcakes,” he laughs. “People want something that keeps them warm from the inside, and chicken soup and ‘yakhni’ do exactly that.”

The winter rush is not limited to Peshawar alone. Residents from Nowshera and Charsadda also flock to local markets at night with their families, boosting footfall at chicken corn soup and yakhni stalls after rains.

Vendors have responded by setting up special counters and offering a variety of sauces and boiled eggs to meet the growing demand.

Busy localities such as Hashtnagri, Karimpura, Gul Bahar, Nothia, Jhangirabad, Board Bazaar, and Hayatabad witness large crowds after sunset.

Faraz Ali, owner of a popular soup outlet at Ghanta Ghar, says his sales have nearly doubled. “Winter is our best season,” he reiterates.

Prices, however, have risen in the wake of Sunday’s rains. Small to medium cups of soup now sell for Rs100 to Rs120, while larger servings cost Rs150 to Rs160. A bowl of chicken ‘yakhni’ is priced at Rs50 to Rs60, up from Rs40–45 last year—occasionally leading to verbal exchanges between customers and vendors.

Faraz Ali attributes the increase to higher costs and added ingredients. “People want more flavour and extra sauces and eggs, so prices have gone up in Peshawar,” he explains.

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“I have been eating Peshawari corn soup since childhood,” says soup lover Ibrahim. “The taste, especially with different sauces, is unmatched.”

While he prefers chicken ‘yakhni’ for its longer-lasting warmth and affordability, he voices concern over rising prices and urges district authorities to regulate costs.

A chicken leg with ‘yakhni’ now costs Rs200–250, compared to Rs150–180 last winter, he adds.

Despite price concerns, the popularity of chicken corn soup and ‘yakhni’ remains undiminished, underscoring their central role in Peshawar’s winter culture.

For many, these dishes are not just about fighting the cold but about reconnecting with tradition, neighbours, and shared memories.

In the heart of the city, Umar’s modest stall stands as a symbol of that warmth. On rainy December nights, a bowl of soup or ‘yakhni’, a boiled egg, and a friendly exchange are enough to double the joy—proof that sometimes, the simplest comforts mean the most in cold weather.