Srinagar, Feb. 7 -- I have often heard the phrase "Koori malyen soori saman" uttered as a blessing in Kashmiri households, whispered lovingly by mothers, murmured in gatherings, and even prayed aloud in masjids and shrines. It is a prayer for a bride, wishing her abundance and prosperity in her marital life. It is imbued with a culture deeply entrenched in materialism, where a woman's fortune almost equals the things she brings into her new home. In Kashmir, weddings are festive occasions, steeped in tradition that encompasses far more than merely ritual. One of the truly meaningful facets of the Kashmiri cultural fabric is elaborately prepared trousseaus of all kinds of items that families should get ready for their daughter's entry into...