Festival freeze

In 2024, "we started seeing a sudden change in weather patterns like snowfall, freezing levels in overall temperatures", said Sadiq Saleem, 31, president of the Altit Town Management Society and a founding member of local sports club and rising foundation, or SCARF, a youth organization which pioneered ice hockey in the valley.

Thin puddles formed where skate blades scratched the ice. Hairline cracks spread beneath the surface. Organizers pressed their palms on the ice, checking for flex, and listening for cracks.

"We worked on this arena for a week," said Naseer Uddin, 34, cofounder of SCARF. "But when the sun came out strongly, it ruined everything."