Kraaw: The Homecoming Kashmir Forgot

I grew up in a home where even silence spoke of belonging. Where a daughter, though married and gone, was never forgotten.

- Sincerely, Bashir Ahmad Dar Kulgam

And once every year, in the season when bean plants ripened, we remembered that bond through a tradition called Kraaw.

You've probably never heard of it. Even many young Kashmiris haven't. But for those who have, it still brings a lump to the throat.

Kraaw wasn’t loud or showy. It wasn’t celebrated in the streets or shared on social media. It happened inside homes, silently, patiently.