Srinagar, July 5 -- Noon Chai was never just tea in Srinagar. It was the soul of the city, poured carefully into small cups and passed from hand to hand, across homes, shops, and wooden balconies.

The pink drink, salty and fragrant, warmed cold mornings and softened long nights. It welcomed friends, settled quarrels, and reminded people of who they were.

For generations, Noon Chai stitched the city together like the fine threads in its carpets. It belonged to every home and every story.

Smoke once curled out of chimneys as samavors steamed in kitchens, filling the air with the comforting smell of Noon Chai.

In those lanes, artisans shaped the city's pride. They painted delicate paper-mache, wove soft Pashmina, hammered bright copper, ...