Groups of Muslim residents in the old quarters of Indian Kashmir’s main city, Srinagar, mark the annual festival by throwing firecrackers across a stream at dusk on Dec 21. The small festival, which coincides with the beginning of the 40 coldest winter days in the disputed Himalayan region, used to be a mixed Muslim-Hindu tradition now carried on by Muslims alone after most Hindus fled violence more than three decades ago. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES