In India-controlled Kashmir, villagers partake in a torch-lighting ceremony rooted in a centuries-old religious tradition honoring the Sufi saint Hazrat Zain-ud-Din Wali. This torch festival symbolizes the end of winter and the onset of spring, coinciding with the sowing season. Held after evening prayers, the event transforms the surroundings into a vibrant space filled with flames, chants, and communal bonding, underlining the significance of faith and hope that connects generations within the community.
Each torch lit is a gesture of faith and connects generations, bringing people together in hope.
The torch festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of the sowing season, beginning after the evening prayers.
The custom carried out at the Hazrat Zain-ud-Din Wali shrine honours a Sufi saint.
As darkness falls, the sound of the call to prayer drifts over the valley.
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