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Festivals of Jammu Kashmir
The Festivals of Jammu and Kashmir are considered to be very striking with the abundance of striking colors.

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Festivals of Jammu & Kashmir, IndiaFestivals in India are celebrated more than any other country in the world. Each of the festival is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm. Similarly, people of Jammu and Kashmir have their own festivals to celebrate as well. Among several festivals of this region some are the prime and grand festivals, which are celebrated each year religiously by the people of the state. Some of the Festivals of Jammu and Kashmir are Eid ul Fitr, Hemis Festival, Baisakhi, Tulip Festival, Shikara Festival, Gurez Festival, Galdan Namchot, Matho Nagrang, Dosmoche and many more. Some of the Festivals of Jammu and Kashmir have been discussed below in brief.

Eid ul Fitr Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
Eid Ul Fitr is celebrated on the last day of Ramzan or Ramadan. Namaz is offered six times on this day along with breaking the one month long fasting. The festival is celebrated by exchanging sweets, wearing new clothes and meeting and sharing wishes to people.

Hemis Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
Hemis Festival is celebrated in the Hemis Monastery of Ladakh, which is 45 km from Leh. The festival is celebrated for two days in the fifth month of the year, which is also called Tibetan lunar month. Hemis Festival, declared as the state holiday, takes place to commemorate the birth anniversary of Padmasambhava- the founder of the Tibetan Buddhism. Men and women adorn themselves with traditional attires along with heavy jewelry. The Lamas perform the traditional "Chaam" dance with the beats of the drums, horns and cymbals.

Festivals of Jammu & Kashmir, IndiaTulip Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
Tulip festival in the state is celebrated during the spring season with the variety of Tulips that are grown in the hundreds of Tulip gardens in the entire region. The festival is taken place at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, Kashmir. Tulip Festival showcases local handicrafts, cuisine, cultural programs as well along with the 50 different types of Tulips.

Shikara Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
Shikara Festival of Jammu and Kashmir began in the year 2016. During this festival, Shikaras are painted and dressed well and they take part in the Shikara Race, Dragon Boat Race and Canoe Polo Match in the Dal Lake. This festival takes place in the months of July or August.

Gurez Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
Gurez is the placid valley in the Himalayas, which is around 123 km from the capital of Kashmir. The valley is located on the ancient Silk Route. People of this region host an annual festival to showcase their handicrafts, cuisines and culture. This festival also includes river rafting, trekking, and cycling along with several competitions. Many musical programs are arranged to showcase the Kashmiri culture. Gurez Festival is celebrated in the months of July or August in the valley of Gurez.

Festivals of Jammu & Kashmir, IndiaLohri Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
This much-awaited festival in the Jammu province marks the culmination of the cold season and is celebrated throughout the state with great excitement. During this festival the locals take a dip in the holy rivers in different parts of the state. In the province of Kashmir the special feature that marks the festival of Lohri is the "Chajja" dance. The young crowds in this state prepare `Chajjas` with colored bits of paper and then dance on the street to the rhythm of drumbeats. Traditional songs and dances also enhance the spirit of the festive celebrations.

Spituk Gustor Zanskar Festival
This Tibetan festival is celebrated in the monasteries of Ladakh like Thiksey, Spituk, and Karsha etc. The festival is celebrated on 30th and 31st October of every month and the Gustor stands for sacrifices, which is made on the penultimate day of the month. The festival starts with the morning prayers and after the rituals, the sacrificial cake "Torma" is distributed among all the people.

Galdan Namchot Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
This is one of the most important festivals of Jammu and Kashmir, which marks the birth anniversary of Je Tsongkhapa (a remarkable proponent of the Gelug Branch of Tibetan Buddhism). Ladakh marks its new year on the fifth day of this festival, which is called Losar.

Festivals of Jammu & Kashmir, IndiaLadakh Festival of Jammu and Kashmir
This harvest festival is held during the first 15 days on the month of September. Cultural troupes from different parts of Ladakh arrange traditional music and dance during this festival along with competitions of Polo and Archery.

Baisakhi Festival of Jammu and Kashmir Baisakhi Festival is held on the first day in the month of Baisakh according to the Hindu calendar or on the 13th day in the month of April. It also holds special significance for the Sikhs of India as it marks the beginning of their New Year. The traditional "Bhangra" dance also forms a part of the cultural performances during this festival. It is also considered auspicious for marriages.


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