Quick Answer
The main festivals of Jammu and Kashmir that visitors can plan around are the Tulip Festival in Srinagar (late March to mid-April), Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha (dates move each year with the lunar calendar), the Kheer Bhawani mela at Tulmulla (late May or June), the Amarnath Yatra (July to August), the saffron harvest at Pampore (late October to November), the Urs at Sufi shrines such as Charar-e-Sharief, and Lohri and Baisakhi in the Jammu region.
Plan a Kashmir trip around a festival
Kashmir does not have one big festival season. Its celebrations follow the seasons and the religious calendar: flowers in spring, pilgrimages in summer, harvest in autumn. Some are open events anyone can attend; others are religious occasions where visitors are welcome to look on quietly.
This guide lists each festival with its usual month and place, what a visitor actually sees, and how to plan a trip around it.
Jammu and Kashmir festival calendar
| Festival | Usual time | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Lohri | 13 January | Jammu region |
| Tulip Festival | Late March to mid-April | Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar |
| Baisakhi | 13 or 14 April | Jammu region, and Mughal gardens in Srinagar |
| Eid ul-Fitr | Moves about 11 days earlier each year; March in 2027 | Across the valley; prayers at Hazratbal and Jamia Masjid |
| Eid ul-Adha | About 70 days after Eid ul-Fitr; May in 2027 | Across the valley |
| Kheer Bhawani mela | Jyeshtha Ashtami, late May or June | Tulmulla, Ganderbal |
| Amarnath Yatra | July to August | Amarnath cave via Pahalgam or Baltal |
| Saffron harvest | Late October to November | Pampore |
| Urs at Sufi shrines | Through the year, by the lunar calendar | Charar-e-Sharief, Makhdoom Sahib and other shrines |
Lunar festival dates are announced close to the day. Check the year's dates before booking.
Tulip Festival, Srinagar (spring)
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden on the Zabarwan foothills above Dal Lake is Asia's largest tulip garden. It opens only while the tulips bloom, usually from the last week of March to mid-April, for about three to four weeks, and the Tulip Festival is held in that window. Go early in the morning on a weekday for fewer crowds.
Tickets, timings and tips: Tulip Garden Srinagar.
Eid in Kashmir
Eid ul-Fitr, at the end of Ramadan, and Eid ul-Adha are the biggest celebrations in the valley. In the days before Eid, Srinagar's markets stay busy into the night with bakeries, sweets and new clothes. On Eid morning large congregations pray at Hazratbal, Jamia Masjid and local Eidgahs, then families visit each other and share food.
- For visitors: many shops close on Eid day, while hotels, houseboats and tourist transport keep running.
- During Ramadan: restaurants in tourist areas stay open, but some local eateries open only after sunset. Eat discreetly in public during fasting hours.
- Dates: both Eids move about 11 days earlier each year and are confirmed by moon sighting.
Kheer Bhawani mela, Tulmulla
The mela at the Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal district, is the main annual gathering of Kashmiri Pandits. It falls on Jyeshtha Ashtami, usually in late May or June, when devotees come to the sacred spring at the temple. Local Muslim neighbours traditionally help with stalls and arrangements. Tulmulla is about an hour from Srinagar.
More on the temple: Kheer Bhawani temple guide.
Amarnath Yatra (summer)
The Amarnath Yatra to the cave shrine runs for several weeks in July and August, by the longer Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route. It needs advance registration and a health certificate. Pahalgam and Sonamarg are busy with pilgrims during the yatra, so book hotels early if you are travelling then. Details: Amarnath Yatra guide.
Saffron harvest, Pampore (autumn)
From late October into November the karewa plateaus around Pampore, south of Srinagar, turn purple with crocus flowers, picked by hand for a few weeks. Kashmiri saffron carries a Geographical Indication tag. Pampore is on the Srinagar to Pahalgam highway, so a stop fits easily into a trip. See Kashmiri saffron from Pampore.
Urs at Kashmir's Sufi shrines
An Urs marks the death anniversary of a Sufi saint, with night-long prayers, recitation and crowds of devotees. The best known in Kashmir is the Urs of Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani at Charar-e-Sharief in Budgam. Others are held at shrines such as Makhdoom Sahib in Srinagar. Dates follow the lunar calendar, so check locally. On important Islamic days the holy relic at Hazratbal is shown to large congregations.
Visitors are welcome at most shrines: dress modestly, cover your head where asked, and remove shoes before entering.
Festivals in the Jammu region
Lohri (13 January) marks the end of the coldest weeks with bonfires in the Jammu region. Baisakhi (13 or 14 April) is the spring harvest festival, with fairs in Jammu and gatherings in Srinagar's Mughal gardens. Jammu is the gateway for Vaishno Devi at Katra and for the rail and road route into the valley.
Winter sports in Gulmarg
Gulmarg has hosted the Khelo India Winter Games in recent winters, usually in February or March, with skiing and snowboarding events on the Apharwat slopes. Even outside an event, January to March is Gulmarg's ski season. See Gulmarg skiing packages and snowfall in Kashmir.
Planning a trip around a Kashmir festival
- Book early: tulip season, Eid holidays and the Amarnath Yatra fill Srinagar and Pahalgam hotels fast.
- Keep dates flexible: tulip bloom and lunar festival dates are confirmed only shortly before, so plan a window rather than one fixed day.
- Respect the occasion: ask before photographing people at prayers or shrines.
- Ask us: our Srinagar team tells you what is on during your dates and builds the trip around it. WhatsApp or call +91 91860 51499, 9am to 9pm every day.
Ladakh is a separate Union Territory with its own festivals, such as Hemis: see the Ladakh festivals calendar.
Plan a trip around a Kashmir festival
Tell us which festival and your dates. We will check what is on and build the trip around it.
Further reading from Kashmir Pulse
- Kashmir Events This Autumn: The Saffron Harvest Festival and What Else Is On
Beyond the usual seasonal packages, autumn brings two things worth planning a trip around directly: the Saffron Harvest Festival in Pampore,...
- Kashmir in Spring: The Tulip Festival and the Awakening Valley
Each spring, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden erupts into the largest tulip display in Asia - over 1.5 million flowers across 68...
- Kashmir Ziyarat Tour Package: Shrines, Mosques, Itinerary and Prices
A Kashmir ziyarat tour package covering Hazratbal, Jamia Masjid, Khanqah-e-Moula, Makhdoom Sahib, Dastgeer Sahib, Charar-e-Sharief and...
- Khanqah-e-Moula, Srinagar: The Painted Wooden Shrine on the Jhelum
Khanqah-e-Moula on the Jhelum in Srinagar's old city: its history since 1395, the papier-mache interior, fires and rebuilds, how to visit...
- Kashmir Saffron: The Pampore Harvest and Why It Is Different from Everything Else
Kashmiri saffron is grown in a single district: Pampore, in the Pulwama district, 13km southeast of Srinagar on the Srinagar-Jammu highway....
- Golf in Gulmarg: Playing One of the Highest Golf Courses in the World
Gulmarg's 18-hole course sits at 2,650 metres, ringed by pine forest and the Affarwat peaks - a genuine bucket-list round for travelling...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main festivals of Jammu and Kashmir?
Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, the Tulip Festival in Srinagar, the Kheer Bhawani mela at Tulmulla, the Amarnath Yatra, the saffron harvest at Pampore, the Urs at Sufi shrines such as Charar-e-Sharief, and Lohri and Baisakhi in the Jammu region.
When is the Tulip Festival in Kashmir?
During the bloom at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, usually from the last week of March to mid-April. The exact opening is announced shortly before, depending on the weather.
When is the flower season in Kashmir?
Spring, from late March to mid-April. The almond trees at Badamwari in Srinagar flower in late March, and the Tulip Garden opens for its bloom from about the last week of March to mid-April. Mustard fields around Pampore also turn yellow in spring.
When is Kheer Bhawani mela?
On Jyeshtha Ashtami, which usually falls in late May or June, at the Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal district, about an hour from Srinagar.
Is it a good idea to visit Kashmir during Eid?
Yes, if you enjoy seeing local life: markets are lively before Eid and the whole city feels festive. Many shops close on Eid day itself, while hotels, houseboats and tourist transport keep running.
When is the saffron season in Kashmir?
The saffron crocus flowers around Pampore from late October into November and are picked by hand for a few weeks.
What festivals are in Kashmir in winter?
Winter brings Lohri in the Jammu region in January and, in recent years, the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg around February or March. Eid can also fall in winter or spring, depending on the year.
Written by Via Kashmir Editorial Team
Last checked November 2026
Via Kashmir is a Srinagar-based travel company built around one goal: giving travellers the best possible Kashmir experience. Our team puts together the best-priced hotels, cabs, Kashmir tour packages, and adventure packages with real sports activities, drawing on daily, on-the-ground knowledge of Kashmir's roads, weather, and seasons. Every guide on this site is written and checked by our local Srinagar team.