Srinagar, March 1 - After over two months of one of Kashmir's harshest winters, universities, colleges and schools reopened here Thursday.

Although the winter vacation for primary and middle schools have been extended in the valley and they will open March 11, universities, colleges and secondary schools wore a festive look Thursday.

Meeting their friends after a long time, students exchanged greetings and received each other warmly.

Hundreds of scholars started arriving at the Hazratbal campus of Kashmir University since the morning. Faculty members engaged themselves with academic problems of the students.

"It is almost like a festival. We are meeting each other after over two months of a bitter winter which kept us locked indoors," said Samia, 23, a student.

"The reopening of the university coincides with the arrival of the spring season which is the season of flowers, lush green grass, murmuring streams and butterflies," Samia added.

Recovering from the uncertainties of violence that rocked the valley for nearly two decades, Kashmiri boys and girls are now proving their mettle throughout the country and outside.

Many Kashmir boys and girls are now making it to the coveted Indian Administrative Services which were once thought to be beyond the reach of the local youth.

"The myth already stands broken. We have students entering the civil services, IITs, IIMs and other fiercely competitive fields. There never was any dearth of talent in Kashmir. All the youth needed was to get focussed", said Farah Qayoom, an assistant professor at the university.

Farah has herself chosen the teaching career at the sociology department saying goodbye to the civil services for which she qualified last year.