Main Festivals in Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir is popularly known as ‘the Paradise on Earth’. The region is rich in diversity and culture. Even though the population of Jammu and Kashmir comprises largely of Muslims, the region celebrates both Hindu and Muslim festivals with great enthusiasm. Festivals like Eid, Holi, and Diwali are celebrated in the region like any other state in the country. The main festivals of Jammu and Kashmir are the festivals conducted by the local people as a part of their culture and heritage. These festivals are exclusively celebrated in this part of India. These festivals are colourful and accompanied by folk dance, songs, and local rituals. 

Tulip Festival

The tulip festival is celebrated during the spring season. Kashmir is home to hundreds of tulip gardens. The Indira Gandhi memorial tulip garden is located in Srinagar. This garden houses over 65 varieties of tulips and also hosts the tulip festival. It is also the largest garden of tulips in Kashmir. The tulip festival marks the onset of spring, and the colourful tulips add more beauty to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.  

Shikara Festival

Wooden boats found in the lakes of Jammu and Kashmir are referred to as Shikaras. The Shikaras in Jammu and Kashmir are used for the purpose of rides in the lake, aquatic harvesting, and fishing. 

These Shikaras line up for a race once a year in Dal Lake during the Shikara festival. Even though the festival started recently in 2016, it is still one of the most important festivals in the region. Apart from the Shikara race, other boat races in the region are the Canoe Polo and the Dragon Boat Race.

Saffron Festival

The saffron festival is another festival celebrated only in the Jammu Kashmir Valley. This is because Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India that produces the finest quality of saffron. The harvesting period of saffron is celebrated as the saffron festival. 

The idea of celebrating the harvest of saffron comes from the pre-Mughal period. The Government of India restarted this festival to promote tourism. The region of Pampore is the chief producer of saffron. The people of this area are directly or indirectly involved in the production and trade of valuable spices. The Annual festival of saffron harvest is celebrated in this region around the beginning of November.

During the festival, cultural programs are held in the city. People perform folk dances, and there is immense participation and enthusiasm among people. A conventional tea, called the ‘Kahva’, prepared with saffron, is very common in this festival. 

The festival lasts for eight days and is celebrated in the saffron fields of Pampore. Stalls are set up that sell different types of saffron. This celebration attracts many tourists to the Kashmir valley.

Baisakhi 

The harvest festival of Jammu and Kashmir is known as Baisakhi. Along with Jammu and Kashmir, this festival is also celebrated in the entire North India. The festival also holds special importance for the Sikhs as it marks the formation of the Khalsa sect by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. The Sikhs also celebrate it as their new year. Several fairs and carnivals are organised during the festival. Punjabi folk dance, Punjabi dishes, and people clad in traditional clothes are common at this festival. 

Hemis Festival

The Hemis festival celebrates the culture of Ladakh. This festival marks the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated after the harsh winter of Ladakh and attracts many tourists to the region. This festival is celebrated in honour of the birth of Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Ripoche), who founded Vajrayana Buddhism. According to the Tibetan lunar moon, the festival is celebrated on its 10th day. The celebrations occur in the Hemis monastery, which is 45 km away from Leh. Hemis monastery is a Himalayan Buddhist monastery and is the largest monastery in Ladakh.

During the festival, dancers wearing paper-mache masks and dressed in colourful attires dance to the region’s traditional music. This dance is an important part of the Hemis festival. This is a two-day festival and is attended by numerous tourists every year.

Gurez Festival

The valley of Gurez is situated in the northern region of Kashmir. The department of tourism started the Gurez festival with the main aim of promoting tourism in the region. It is a two-day festival that displays the cuisine, handicrafts, sports, and the rich culture of this unexplored valley. Various tourist activities are organised during this festival. Also, the local artists and students from the region perform in various cultural programs.

During the festival, the folk dance of Gurez is performed. Also, various activities like rafting, trekking, cycling, zorbing, etc., are organised. One of the most common sports of this festival is water rafting which is organised on the Kishanganga river. 

Conclusion 

Jammu and Kashmir celebrate many local festivals along with major festivals such as Eid, Holi, and Diwali. Some important festivals that are celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir are:

• Tulip festival – Celebrated to mark the onset of the spring season when the tulips are ready to bloom.

• Shikara festival – The Shikaras in Dal Lake compete in a race during this festival.

• Saffron festival – The harvesting period of Saffron is celebrated as the saffron festival

• Baisakhi is celebrated as the harvesting festival and the new year for Sikhs.

• Hemis festival – A two-day festival that celebrates the culture of Ladakh.

• Gurez Festival – A two-day festival that celebrates the culture of the Gurez valley.