Baramulla, July 1 -- The roar of the crowd, the thud of boots meeting ball, and the electrifying tension of a match on the edge-Baramulla's GDC ground is alive like never before. As Varmul Gindo 2025 marches on, football is proving to be more than a game-it's becoming the pulse of a generation rising with grit and ambition.

In a high-stakes group match, 16-year-old Zaid Mir chases a through ball with fire in his eyes. A midfielder for the underdog team Star Boys FC, he's up against the formidable Elite Blues. His school shirt tucked into borrowed shorts, Zaid plays like everything depends on this moment-because for him, it does.

"I dream of playing for J&K one day," he says after the match, chest heaving, sweat pouring. "This festival m...