Photo: Imran Nissar

Bottled pride: Azizullah Kozgar pours rose water syrup in a glass jar at his shop in the downtown area of Srinagar.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Bottled pride: Azizullah Kozgar pours rose water syrup in a glass jar at his shop in the downtown area of Srinagar.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Floral alchemy: Workers process the collected rose petals in a distillation plant. The resulting herbal hydrosol is used widely in culinary dishes, cosmetics, and religious rituals.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Steaming essence: A worker heats rose water in distillation units to extract rose oil in Ganderbal district, central Kashmir.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Purest drops: A worker collects the distillate in Sirhama, Anantnag district.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Dedicated hands: A worker layering fresh rose petals in the first step to making Gulkand.

Photo: Imran Nissar

In the pink: Women engaged in preparing Gulkand in Srinagar.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Bringing flavours to life: Rose petals are being pressed in a traditional stone blender. The petals are layered with sugar in airtight glass jars, and the mixture is slow-cured under the warmth of the sun for several weeks.

Photo: Imran Nissar

Sweet culmination: The home-made concoction of Gulkand, a sugary preserve made of rose petals.