Srinagar, March 6 -- One positive fallout of this has been that the government has given a go ahead for the Khelo India Winter Games, earlier deferred due to lack of adequate snow cover. The postponement, as the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, proved fortuitous. The games will now be held between March 9-12. The now snowbound slopes of Gulmarg will provide the perfect setting for the games, ensuring that athletes from across India experience the thrill of winter sports in one of the world's most scenic locations.

Beyond the sporting arena, the snowfall is a boon for tourism in the Valley. A largely dry winter led to a spate of cancellations of bookings. Snow, it goes without saying, is a novelty for most Indians, drawing them to Kashm...