Festivals of Kashmir

Top festivals to celebrate in Kashmir in 2021

Kashmir has its charm in its enchanting beauty, the huge snow-clad mountains, the green lush hilltops, and the gushing waters of rivers and streams. The hospitality of the valley is famous all over the world. The people of Kashmir are so warm in their hearts, that they make every outsider feel at home in the valley.

There are some times when people of all religions come together and celebrate the festivals. From the beginning of the year, the valley witnesses many festivals, one after the other.

Festivals of Kashmir

are celebrated with great zeal and zest. Every religion has its own festivals that make the valley culturally rich.

First and foremost, there is a huge population of Muslims, so the festivals of Muslims are celebrated with great zeal and zest. Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha are two main festivals for the Muslim community. There are no particular dates for Eid, but it keeps on changing depending on the lunar calendar. But Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated before Eid-ul-Azha.

Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated after the 30 days of fasting in the month of Ramadan. A special prayer is also offered, in which both men and women participate with a huge rush in the mosques, shrines, and parks. People meet each other with great happiness and joy, and also exchange sweets and gifts.

Eid-ul-Azha, one of the Festivals of Kashmir, is celebrated in the second half of the year. It is also known as Bakra Eid, for a goat, camel, or cow is being sacrificed in the remembrance of the prophet Ibrahim and Ismail. After some animal is sacrificed, the pieces of the mutton are then distributed among relatives and friends. This Eid is celebrated for almost three days.

Among the Muslims, local Urs are also celebrated in a different region. Mostly the Urs is celebrated in that region where the respective shrine is located. Thousands of people throng the shrines at the time of the Urs.

Next is the festival of the Baisakhi, which is one of the Festivals of Kashmir. It is celebrated among the Sikhs. It is celebrated on the 13th of April every year. Sikhs consider this day as a new year and embark on harvesting season in the country. The valley has a great population of Sikhs, so the Baisakhi is celebrated with huge joy.

Lohri is celebrated on 13th January every year. People celebrate this festival as a mark of the end of the peak winter. People assemble at different places and light up the bonfire at their places. They dance and sing songs around the bonfire. Some special desserts that are made of sugary things are also served. It is more celebrated in Jammu and not in Ladakh and Kashmir.

The

Tulip festival

is celebrated in Kashmir, as a sign of the arrival of the spring season. It is usually celebrated in the month of April that lasts long for a month, tulip garden is open only during this month in the whole year. It is considered one of the major Festivals of Kashmir. The garden is decorated with thousands of different varieties of flowers. Thousands of people all across the world come here to experience the best view of the tulips of Asia’s largest Tulip Garden.

Shikaara festival

is one of the other Festivals of Kashmir. It was celebrated first time in 2016. The Shikaara are painted with different attractive colors and are then sent for the famous Shikaara race. Shikaara riders actively participate in the race and other activities like Dragon Boat Race and Caneo Pole Match are also organized. Cultural programs are also held on the houseboats that present the Kashmiri Culture. This festival is celebrated usually in June or July.

Diwali is known as the festival of lights. Diwali is celebrated with great zeal and zest. Kashmiri Pandits celebrate this festival. Jammu celebrates Diwali with great joy and happiness.

Holi is also celebrated in the state, but only in the Jammu region. Holi is known as the festival of colors. People across the state celebrate this festival with great joy and zeal. Kashmiri pandits assemble at different places and play with colors. This festival is popular among children and young.

Christmas in Kashmir

is also celebrated at different places. There are several churches in the valley at different places. And, at every church, Christmas is celebrated with great respect and joy. Santa spreads joy and happiness all across the valley.