Youths in a snow-bound valley in north India organised a 'snow cricket' tournament to raise interest in winter sports in their region.

Filmed in a field in the town of Dawar, in the valley of Gurez, Kashmir, the teams can be seen having cleared the central strip of snow, while leaving the outer playing area buried in deep snow.

Reportedly the region is often blocked off by snow for up to six months of the year, however local people feel that the area deserves more attention for its beauty and potential as a venue for snow sports.

According to the locals, the remote valley has a great potential for winter sports as it remains covered under heavy snow which the tourism and sports authorities have failed to recognise.

Khursheed Ahmad, a local resident, said that during winter months people of Gurez remain confined to their homes, as they don’t have anything to do.

Ahmad commented: “Had the authorities promoted this place as a winter destination and organized winter games, the area would get economically uplifted and it would also help the residents to overcome weather vagaries.

"The area has the potential for winter games like snow skiing, ice hockey and various other games.”

Welcome to snow cricket on a frozen field in Northern India.

To attract the attention of higher authorities and the outside world for promoting winter sports, youth in the remote valley of Gurez have organized a snow cricket tournament on a frozen snowfield in Dawar.

Youth organise snow cricket tournament to attract attention of authorities towards promoting winter sportsTo attract the attention of higher authorities and the outside world for promoting winter sports, youth in the remote valley of Gurez have organized a snow cricket tournament on a frozen snowfield in Dawar.

According to the locals, the remote valley has a great potential for winter sports as it remains covered under heavy snow which the tourism and sports authorities have failed to recognize.

They said that when different winter sports can be organized in Gulmarg, why cannot similar games be held in Gurez during winter months as the area has great potential.

The serene and mesmerizing beauty of this small valley, mostly during winters when it’s covered with heavy snow, attracts the attention of many,” said Bilal Ahmad one of the organizing members.

He said that the successive governments have failed to recognize the potential the Gurez valley has for winter sports .The residents said that the area lags far behind other parts of the state as it remains cut off from rest of the valley and outside world for about six months due to the closure of Bandipora-Gurez road during winter months. “The closure is due to least importance paid towards this road, that is why we have been demanding a tunnel to provide round the year connectivity to this picturesque valley,” a local resident said.

Locals said that youth have now turned to snow cricket at the foothills of famous Habba Khatoon peak to promote winter sports in Gurez and also beat the winter chill.

Khursheed Ahmad a local resident, said that during winter months people of Gurez remain confined to their homes as they don’t have anything to do. “Had the authorities promoted this place as a winter destination and organized winter games, the area would get economically uplifted and it would also help the residents to overcome weather vagaries. The area has the potential for winter games like snow skiing, ice hockey and various other games,” he said.

The video was shot on 19 February