Pakistan faces severe water shortages as rising temperatures melt its glaciers. To fight this, residents in Pakistan’s Himalayan region use glacier grafting. This traditional technique creates artificial glaciers to store water during dry times. Known locally as glacier marriage, the method involves moving ice from one valley to a chosen high-altitude site where it freezes into a new glacier. Zakir Hussain Zakir, a researcher from the University of Baltistan, explains that glacier grafting dates back to the 14th century when Sufi saint Mir Syed Ali Hamadani first performed it. Volunteers collect about 200kg of ice, termed “male” (black) and “female” (white), from different valleys. They carry it to a safe site where it is layered with salt, coal, grass, and water from seven streams. The ice blocks slowly fuse and develop into a glacier over months and years, becoming a steady water source after about two decades. The process includes strict cultural rituals: ice must never touch the ground, volunteers work silently, and only local food is consumed. Movement and respect for nature are key. Glacier grafting strengthens water security in this fragile mountain area, but rising climate threats and regional conflicts pose risks. Rising temperatures in Pakistan have increased 1.3°C since the 1950s, twice the global average. Experts warn that glacier grafting alone can't fully solve water issues but highlights the power of Indigenous knowledge and collective care. However, many worry that younger generations are moving away from this ancient practice, endangering its future. This story was created in partnership with the Pulitzer Center.