Srinagar, Jan. 21 -- I have always believed that when people begin to celebrate small things, it means they are slowly returning to normal life. Celebrations do not arrive suddenly; they grow quietly when fear loosens its grip. In Kashmir, this idea of "normalcy" has always felt distant, almost unreal. For most of our lives, we have not had the freedom, or sometimes even the courage, to pause, relax, or celebrate without second thoughts. Even today, when we visit tourist places in Kashmir, we mostly see outsiders. Kashmiris have rarely had the time to enjoy their own land. We grew up learning how to survive, not how to rest. Leisure was never natural to us. Joy often felt borrowed, temporary, or unsafe. That is why the winter celebrations...