Srinagar, May 20 -- Each spring, villagers near Panzath gather at the local spring with big baskets. They wade into cool waters, catching fish while clearing weeds, silt, and plastic.

The fish festival serves as cover for something deeper: collective care for shared waters.

People show up together, restoring life to the spring, making waters sparkle again. This annual ritual keeps the spring alive through direct participation.

Kashmir could borrow this spirit. Neighbourhoods, mohallas, or village clusters could set dates for cleaning local streams, springs, and streets. Schools, shopkeepers, housewives, farmers, and students could join hands, turning cleanup into celebration.

The valley possesses hundreds of springs, each one central ...