Celebrated to welcome the Spring with a special fervor in Jammu region, it is celebrated on 13th January, one day before Makar Sankranti. Thousands of devotees take a holy dip in the holy river. 'Havans' and 'Yagnas', the rites and rituals, are performed in nearly every house and temple in Jammu. In the rural areas, it is customary for the boys to go around asking for gifts from newly-weds and new parents. 'Chajja' dance is performed on this occasion and the boys along with their elaborately decorated 'chajjas' with colored paper and flowers, dance in a procession on the street accompanied by pulsating drumbeats

J&K Tourism organizes this 3-day Mela annually during the Baisakhi season. The picturesque Mansar Lake serves as the venue of the fair, 60 km from Jammu. People and visitors throng to this place to see a wonderful display of the local crafts and cuisine at the fair site.

Baba Jitu was a simple and honest farmer who preferred to kill himself rather than give in to the atrocities of the local landlord and part with his crop. He used to live in the village of Jhiri, 14 km from Jammu. It is believed that Baba and his followers gather together at Jhiri on the appointed day from every corner of North India. He is revered for his compassion, courage and honesty and an annual fair is held in his honor.

Chaitre Chaudash is celebrated usually in March or April, at Uttar Behni, which is about 25 km from Jammu. It is so called because in the Hindi language it means that the Devak River flows here towards the north.

39 km from the city of Jammu, Purmandal is transformed for three days as people celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva to goddess Parvati on Shivratri. It falls usually in February or March. The people of Jammu come get dressed in their best attires and throng to the shrines such as Peer Khoh, the Ranbireshwar Temple and Panjbhaktar Temple.

Eid Ul Fitr is celebrated on the last day of a month-long fasting in Ramzan or Ramadan. Namaz is offered six times on this day and fast is broken with feasting. Exchange of sweets and wearing new clothes, meeting relatives and sharing wishes completes this peaceful festival. Eid ul Azha or Bakra Eid is celebrated in the second half of the year when a goat, camel or a sheep is sacrificed in every Muslim Household. It takes its origin from their principle of Kurbani or Sacrifice. The Urs or Ziarats is an important festival in Kashmir which witnesses participation from Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. It is a huge inter-communal celebration and is celebrated many times in a year. Basically, this festival is celebrated on the death anniversaries of eminent Muslim saints like Meesha Sahib, Batamol Sahib and Bahauddin. Often a bad weather is faced on the day of Urs celebrations, despite which a huge celebration is marked by people from all religions.

With hundreds of Tulip Gardens in all of Kashmir, the state flourishes with Tulips during the spring season. With the largest Tulip Garden in Asia in its bounty, Srinagar plays host to the great Tulip Festival every year. The festival boasts of the variety of Tulips garnered here. During the springs, the sight of the tulips in any of these gardens is a sight to behold, undoubtedly a mesmerizing and breathtaking sight, especially for a non-Kashmiri. Tulip Festival takes place at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, Kashmir. The festival features a showcase of local handicrafts, luscious cuisine, cultural programs and of course, Tulips!

The lifeline and identity of the Dal Lake in Kashmir, Shikara needs to be celebrated once in a year. To promote tourism, Kashmir's government began this festival in 2016. During the festival, Shikaras are painted and dressed beautifully. Shikaras participate in Shikara Race, Dragon Boat Race and Canoe Polo Match. Other cultural programs are also organised which will give you a glimpse of the culture of Kashmir. It takes place in the months of July or August

The cultural heritage of Kashmir valley is an amalgamation of sorts. The numerous civilizations that have inhabited the Kashmir valley from time to time have left their impression on the culture of Kashmir. The state of Kashmir abounds in ancient literature, language, religion, arts, crafts, dance, music, etc. Infact, the people of Kashmir have made significant contribution in the fields of story-telling, poetry, philosophy, sciences, etc. The handicrafts of Kashmir like Pashmina shawls, silk carpets, woodwork, etc are admired throughout the world. The renowned folk songs and dances are an integral part of the Kashmir culture. Music and dance is a way of celebrating festivities for the people of Kashmir. At one point of time in the past, Kashmir served as one of the highest learning centers of Sanskrit and Persian.

The food of Jammu and Kashmir differs from region to region with the Hindus Dogras of Jammu being predominantly vegetarian; eating a staple diet of rice, wheat and beans. The Ladakhis eat rice, wheat, millet, locally produced vegetables and fruits, goat meat and dairy products made from yak milk. Kashmiri food is characterised by its vast array of dishes cooked over a long period of time in exotic spices. The seasons and availability of fresh produce dictates the ingredients, some of which are dried and used in the winter months. The Kashmiri cuisine is essentially meat-based, while the eating habits of the Hindu and Muslim Kashmiris differ in its use of certain spices and the prohibition of beef for the Hindus.

The highlight of Kashmiri cuisine is the formal banquet called "wazawan" that includes a spread of over 36 courses cooked all night long by a team of chefs called wazas under the supervision of a Vasta waza or master chef, descendants of the cooks from Samarkand. The food is characterised by thick gravies using liberal quantities of yoghurt, spices and dried fruits, and is usually cooked in ghee (clarified butter) or mustard oil. Saffron, the most expensive spice in the world, is grown locally. It is used extensively to flavour the pulaos (rice dish) and sweets. The popular dishes include the starter yakhni, tabaq naat made of fried ribs, dum aloo (steam cooked potato curry), rogan josh made with mutton, gushtaba, a meatball curry and haleem made from meat and pounded wheat. A Kashmiri meal has to end with a cup of  Kahva, green tea flavoured with cardamom and almonds.

The Origin Of Hand Knotted Carpets Locally Known As "kal Baffi" Dates Back To 15th Century After Which It Progressively Attained The High Degree Of Perfection. It Is Said That Sultan Zain-ul-abidin Brought Carpet Weavers From Persia And Central Asia In To Kashmir To Train The Local Inhabitants. Carpets From 200 Knots To 900 Knots/sq. Inch Both In Wool & Silk Yarn Have Attained Such Excellence That They Rank Amongst The Finest In The World. The Loom Used In Kashmir Carpet Weaving Is Composed Of Two Horizontal Wooden Beams Between Which The Wrap Threads Are Stretched, One Beam In Front Of The Weaver And The Second Behind The First. The Difference Between A Carpet And Other Hand Woven Rugs Lies In The Fact That Short Lengths Of The Thread Or Yarn Are Tied To Wrap Chains To Form The Pile Of The Carpet. These Are Commonly Called Knots Though It Is A Loop Rather Than An Actual Knot.

About Kashmir Shawls It Is Said "of All Indian Textiles None Excels In Beauty, Colour, Texture And Design As The Famous Kashmir Shawl". Shawls Are Produced By Two Techniques, Loom Woven Or Kani Shawls And The Needle Embroidered Or Sozni Shawls. The Basic Fabric Is Of The Three Types - Shah Tush, Pashmina And Raffal. Shah Tush (king Of Wool) Passes Through A Ring And Is Also Known As Ring Shawl. It Comes From A Rare Tibetan Antelope Living At A Height Of Over 14000 Ft In The Wilds Of The Himalayas. Pashmina Is Known World Over As Cashmere Wool, It Comes From A Special Goat (capra Hircus) Living At An Altitude Of 12000 To 14000 Ft Reared By Shephered Nomads Around Famous Pongkong Lake In Close Vicinity Of Western Tibet. Raffal Is Spun Out Of Marino Wool Tops And Is A Popular Type Of Shawl.

Carved Walnut Wood-work Is Among The Most Important Crafts Of Kashmir. Kashmir Is Now One Of The Few Places In The World Where Walnut Is Still Available At An Altitude Of 5500-7500 Feet Above See Level. The Wood Is Hard And Durable, Its Close Grain And Even Texture Facilitating Fine And Detailed Work. It Also Presents Visually Interesting Effects With Mere Plain Polished Surfaces In Fact In Contemporary Products, Plain Surfaces And Small Carvings Are Preferred, Especially On Trays, Tables, Bowls And Similar Items. The Kashmir Craftsman, However, Rejoices In Carving Intricate And Varied Designs. A Variety Of Carved Products Bear Recurrent Motifs Of The Rose, Lotus, Iris, Bunches Of Grapes, Pears And Chinar Leaves. Dragon Motifs And Patterns Taken From Kani And Embroidered Shawls All Find Their Place In Wooden Objects With Deep Relief Carving. A Variety Of Articles, Both Decorative And Utilitarian, Ranging From Small Items Like Bowls, Trays, Cigarette Boxes, Wall Plaques And Table Lamps To Screens, Bedsteads And Larger Items Of Furniture Are Carved In Walnut Wood. Four Main Types Of Carving Are Usually Practised In Kashmir-raised, Engraved, Undercut And Plain. The Carving Of Furniture And Smaller Items Is An Elaborate Process And Involves High Degree Of Skill And Craftsmanship. The Carving Is Done With The Help Of Small Indigenous Tools. The Art Of Wood Carving Is Centred In The City Of Srinagar.

Papier Machie Is One Of The Most Popular Of Crafts Practised In Kashmir. The Tradition Of The Kashmir Papier Machie Has Its Origin Rooted In The 15th Century When King Zain-ul-abidin Invited Accomplished Artists And Craftsmen From Central Asia. A French Term So Commonly Adopted In East And West And Meaning "mashed Paper" Papier Machine Is In Fact A Unique Combination Of Line And Colour On Moulded Forms Of A Variety Of Objects. It Involves Ornamentation In Colour Over Smoothened Surfaces Built Up Of Paper Pulp Or Layers Of Paper. Paper Pulp Is Not Always Found Effective And Is Some Times Replaced By Other Substitutes. The Colours Painted On Object Are Made From Pigments Diluted In Water To Which Some Glue Is Added To Fix The Ground On Which It Is Used. The Three Categories Of Colours Are -- Mineral (both Actual And Artificial) Organic (both Plants Insects Etc.) Vegetables. The Final Objects Papier Machie Is Given One Or Two Coats Of Varnish Which Besides Giving It Shine Serves As A Protective Agent. Important Designs And Motifs In Papier Machie Designs Are: Gulander Gul (flower In Flower) Hazara (the Thousand Flowers) Gul Vilayat (the Dear Flower) Miniature Mugal Paints Mythological Figures Animals Hunting Scenes Battle Scenes The Product Range Covers Ring Boxes, Pill Boxes, Boxes Of Assorted Shapes And Sizes, Flower Vases, Wall Plaques, Bowls, Ashtrays, Screens Etc.

Crewel - A Special Kind Of Embroidery Done With A Hook Known As Crewel Is Commonly Used For Drapery And Upholstery. Rows Of Chain Stitch Done With Hook From Solid Patterns Usually Rotating From Centre & Creating An Embossed Effect To Add Richness To The Textile. Crewel Embroidery Is Done On Thick Material Popularly Used For Furnishing And Usually Carries Floral And Creeper Designs. The Designs Are Available In Assortment Of Colours Ranging From A Single Colour To Multi Colour Embroidery. The Width Of The Material Is 54 Inches And Is Available In Running Meterage. The Price Is Related With The Amount Of Embroidery Done On The Material. This Craft Is Also Available On Bed Spreads In Various Sizes Ranging From Single To King Size.

Phool Kari - A Traditional Craft, Recently Revived, Is Phoolkari, Bagh Or Shaloo Embroidered In The Phoolkari Style Was An Essential Part Of The Bride's Trousers Till Only A Few Decades Back. A Craft With Its Origin In Punjab Phoolkari, As The Very Name Suggests Is A Style Of Embroidery Of Floral Designs. The Present Day Designs, However, Are By No Means Limited To Flowers Alone And Include A Variety Of Other Patterns.

Basali Is A Town Located In The Foot-hills Of Shivalik Mountains In Kathua District Of Jammu Division. In The Late 17th Century, Basali Emerged As A Great Centre Of Painting. According To Well Known Dr. Herman Goltz, "basali Painting Are Among The Great Achievements Of Indians". Their Central Inspiration Is Vashnavism, The Themes Have Been Taken From The Epics And The Puranas. The Different Themes Of The Paintings Are Religious (gita Govinda And Ramayana), Secular, Historical, Contemporary And Literary. Besides The Paintings Bring Out Extreme Emotion Combined With A Lyrical Sense Of Basali Landscape. Basali Paintings Are Said To Have Been Described As Poems In Colours. The Paintings Are Marked By Strikingly Blazing Colours Bold Lines, Rich Symbols And Peculiar Features Giving An Accumulative Impact Of Highly Sensuous Environs.

Calico Painting - Samba, A Small Town About 40 Kms From Jammu, On Jammu Pathankot Highway Is A Well Known Centre Of Block Printing. Calico Printing Enjoys A Wide Popularity. Printing In Vegetable Color With Help Of Wooden Blocks On Hand Woven Cotton Cloth Is Being Used As Cool, Comfortable, Floor/bed Coverings And Are In Great Demand.