The centuries old tradition, locally known as “Gaade Maar,” sees hundreds of residents, including children, gather each year to clean and fish in the waters of Panzath Nag by removing weeds, silt and waste from the spring system to preserve the environment and maintain water flow ahead of the paddy cultivation season. Participants work collectively in the shallow waters as part of a community driven effort that also helps preserve local customs and ecological awareness. Panzath Nag, believed to comprise nearly 500 freshwater springs, is considered an important water source in the Himalayan region and supports irrigation and daily water needs for surrounding villages in southern Kashmir. The annual festival comes amid growing environmental concerns in the region, where hundreds of water bodies, lakes and springs have either disappeared or shrunk in recent decades due to climate change, pollution, urbanisation and encroachments, according to environmental studies and official reports.