Festivals of jammu and kashmir

by Study Affairs · May 27, 2024

Through this article we will learn about the major festivals celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir:

Jammu and kashmir Festivals

Saffron Festival

Saffron Festival is a major festival of Jammu and Kashmir which is celebrated only in Jammu Kashmir Valley.
Saffron Festival is celebrated annually during the harvesting of saffron crop in the months of April–May.
Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India that produces the best quality saffron.
There is no fixed date for this, rather its time is decided based on the state of pollen assembly of the flowers.
Many cultural programs and traditional dance-music programs are organized during this festival.
Saffron production is not only an important business but also a part of the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. The life of the people here is deeply connected with saffron cultivation. Therefore their culture and traditions are celebrated in this festival.

Shikara Festival

Shikara Festival is a major festival organized in Kashmir Valley.
It is celebrated on shikaras (boats) in Dal Lake.
This festival was started in the year 2016.
The wooden boats found in the lakes of Jammu and Kashmir are known as Shikaras.
There are various competitions based on hunting like boat racing, fishing etc.
Once a year, during the Shikara festival, shikaras line up for a race in the Dal Lake.
Apart from Shikara races, other boat races in the area include Canoe Polo and Dragon Boat Races.
There are performances of Kashmiri folk dance and music.
This festival reflects the traditional Kashmiri culture and lifestyle. Besides, it is also a big attraction for tourists.

Gurez Festival

Gurez Festival is a major cultural festival of Gurez Valley of Kashmir.
The valley of Gurez is located in the northern region of Kashmir.
The Tourism Department started the Gurez Festival with the primary objective of promoting tourism in the region. It is a two-day festival that showcases local cuisine, handicrafts, sports and the rich culture of this lesser-known valley.
Gurez Festival is celebrated every year in the months of June-July on the occasion of change of sun.
The origin of this festival is very old and its roots are deeply rooted in Kashmiri culture. People consider it a symbol of the beginning of agriculture. It is said that on this occasion the path of the sun changes in Kashmir.
This festival also has spiritual significance. People worship Lord Surya in temples and seek good luck.

Tulip Festival

About Tulip Garden

There are tulip gardens in Kashmir, which also includes the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden located in Srinagar.
More than 65 varieties of tulips are found in the garden.
Tulip garden is the largest in Kashmir.

Hemis Festival

It is a major religious festival celebrated in Ladakh.
Hemis Festival is celebrated annually in Ladakh in the beginning of the months of June-July.
Located in the city of Leh, Hemis Gompa (Monastery) celebrates the Hemis Festival, a two-day grand cultural festival celebrated on the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche.
This festival is associated with Ladakhi Buddhist culture and its origin is believed to be from very ancient times. Its main purpose is to pray for peace, prosperity and well-being.
During Hemis Festival, Ladakhi people wear their traditional clothes and special dances like Lama dance, Mask dance are performed. Special worship takes place in Gompa (Buddhist monastery).
The mask dance performed by Lamas is the main attraction of the Hemis Festival.

Guru Padmasambhava

He introduced Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan kingdom.
A powerful spiritual leader, he is said to have saved the local people from their negative captivity to demons and evil spirits.
He played a major role in the spread of Buddhism in Tibet.

Tawi Festival

The festival showcases the art, culture and heritage of the Jammu and Kashmir region.
The festival focuses on highlighting the diverse art forms and cultural treasures of the Jammu region.
In this, youth get an opportunity to showcase their talent and share their ideas with experts from different fields.
The festival showcases various activities like seminars, workshops, folk music performances, street theater and classical and folk dances.

Crutch

Baisakhi is celebrated on the full moon day of Vaishakh month (April–May) according to the Hindu calendar. This day also symbolizes the new year.
Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir as well as throughout North India.
This festival is also celebrated as a celebration of agriculture and harvest. On this day the wheat crop is harvested and the arrival of the new crop is celebrated.
Baisakhi has special significance in Sikhism because on this day in the year 1699, the tenth Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth.

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