FESTIVAL CALENDAR · JAMMU & KASHMIR · 017

Festivals in Jammu & Kashmir.

17 festivals across Jammu & Kashmir — organised by month.

January

Patnitop Winter Carnival

Patnitop

Snow festival at Patnitop with skiing, snowman-building, and cultural programs at this hill station that serves as Jammu's winter retreat at 2,024m.

Sinthan Top Snow Festival

Sinthan Top

Winter celebration at the 3,800m pass connecting Kashmir and Kishtwar with snow trekking, photography contests, and hot kahwa (Kashmiri green tea) stalls.

February

A two-day celebration of Kashmiri culture held at Kariwan in Devar Lolab. Features traditional folk music, snow volleyball, skiing, dance performances, local handicraft displays, and culinary delights. Attracts thousands of visitors for music performances, heritage walks, and nature experiences.

Gulmarg Winter Games

Gulmarg

National-level skiing and snowboarding championships on Gulmarg's slopes, with the Gulmarg gondola — world's second-highest cable car — ferrying spectators to 3,980m.

April

Tulip Festival

Srinagar

Asia's largest tulip garden — 1.5 million tulips in 60+ varieties below the Zabarwan hills.

Verinag Spring Festival

Verinag

Festival at the octagonal Mughal spring of Verinag — believed source of the Jhelum River — with Kashmiri Sufi music, garden tours, and trout-watching at Kokernag.

Pahalgam Spring Festival

Pahalgam

Tourism festival along the Lidder River valley with trout fishing competitions, horse polo, and Kashmiri folk performances amid blooming almond and cherry trees.

May

Bangus Spring Bloom Festival

Bangus Valley

Celebration of the meadow wildflower bloom in the Bangus Valley with camping, folk music, and guided treks through what locals call Mini-Switzerland.

Tosamaidan Wildflower Season

Tosamaidan

Opening of the Tosamaidan meadow — once an army firing range, now a reclaimed paradise — with wildflower walks, camping, and Gujjar pastoral culture displays.

June

Doodhpathri Meadow Festival

Doodhpathri

Spring meadow celebration in the Valley of Milk with guided walks through wildflower carpets, Kashmiri folk music, and picnics along the Shaliganga stream.

Bhaderwah Mela

Bhaderwah

Annual fair in the Mini-Kashmir of Jammu with Dogra folk dances, Gaddhi shepherd gatherings, and saffron field tours in the Bhaderwah Valley.

Sonamarg Thajiwas Glacier Festival

Sonamarg

Tourism festival at the Thajiwas Glacier featuring pony rides, camping, and cultural programs at this gateway to the Zoji La pass and Ladakh.

July

Yusmarg Shepherd Festival

Yusmarg

Gujjar and Bakerwal shepherd festival in the Meadow of Jesus with traditional milk product competitions, horse races, and nomadic culture showcases.

Amarnath Yatra Start

Pahalgam

The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath ice Shiva lingam at 3,888m begins from Pahalgam via the traditional Chandanwari route, with lakhs of pilgrims passing through.

August

Gurez Cultural Festival

Gurez Valley

Dard-Shin tribal festival in the remote Gurez Valley with traditional Shina music, archery competitions, and Dard cultural performances near Habba Khatoon peak.

October

Kishtwar Saffron Festival

Kishtwar

Festival celebrating Kishtwar's high-altitude saffron harvest with field tours, saffron-infused cuisine, and cultural performances of the Kishtwari folk tradition.

Navratri Pilgrimage at Vaishno Devi

Katra

Massive pilgrimage surge at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during the nine-day Navratri festival. The shrine area is decorated with vibrant floral arrangements and colorful lights. Special Maha Yagya ceremonies with Vedic hymns are performed. Attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees during both Chaitra Navratri (Mar-Apr) and Sharad Navratri (Sep-Oct).