Sameer said the tradition extends beyond Tral, with UP workers organising such games in places like Srinagar Eidgah, Awantipora, among others. Mohammad Salman (19), who works in Tral town, said he has heard of the game being played by UP boys in the Valley for over a decade. Players from other areas often visit Tral to join in, he explained, strengthening their social bonds. “Playing this reminds us of home. We feel like we are back there,” he said.

Their games have begun attracting local youth too. Although a version of the game was once played in Kashmir, it has nearly vanished from local playgrounds. Salinder Singh (40), a resident of Chatrogam near the stadium, said, “It reminds me of my childhood, the way they play. But their style is not the same as ours, sometimes it confuses me.”

Sabzar Ahmad (24), a hairdresser in Tral, enjoys working with these guest workers, calling them competent and respectful of locals, “even learning a bit of Kashmiri.” He is delighted with the routine:  “A day in advance, they would get ready to play Gilli Danda, scheduling calls and pooling in players. It is welcome to note they are bringing back such traditional games, particularly when ours are disappearing."

Players like Mohammad Ayaan (17) and Mohammad Sabit (18), who work in Dhobiwan village, make their weekly trip to the stadium by foot, public transport, or lifts from locals. “Even at the ground, a family nearby provides us with water, tea, and food. They never let us feel like outsiders,” said Mohammad Sahil Malik (20) and Mohammad Mustafa (23). “Kashmir is the best place in India. People here give us so much respect.”

“Lathki lothh was played in Kashmir until around 2000 or 2001, but gradually faded as the younger generation shifted to modern sports like hockey, thangta and yogasana,” said Mohammad Akram, a sports official at the Indoor Stadium in Tral. “These games give young people opportunities to compete at the national level.”