105-year-old Mohammad Ramzan Sheikh voted after a long time today.
A turnout of 30% is anything but impressive. But when the area is Sopore, it makes for history.
For three decades, this separatist bastion of Jammu and Kashmir has given the elections a go-by. Even in the Lok Sabha polls held six months ago, the turnout was just 1%.
But this morning, despite a temperature of 3 degrees, men and women waited in long queues at Sopore's Lalad polling station to exercise their franchise. (Read:
Jammu and Kashmir votes)
Most were first-time voters. But not 105-year-old Mohammad Ramzan Sheikh.
"I do not remember how many times I have voted. I have been voting since Sheikh Abdullah started politics," said Mr Sheikh, who was brought to the polling station by his grandchildren.
He doesn't remember when he last voted either.
"This is a blessing by God," he said.
At Singpora in Pattan constituency, the atmosphere was festive. All eyes were on 26-year-old Altaf Ahmad, who is considered a bit "simple".
As he stood in queue for over an hour, clutching his voter slip, everyone had just one question for him: "Whom are you voting for?"
Finally, coming out of the booth, Altaf held up his index finger marked with indelible ink. "I have voted for...," he jubilantly shouted out the symbol, puffing on a cigarette.
It did seem a time to rejoice. Whatever the turnout, moderate or high, North Kashmir or South, people had come out to vote.