Srinagar is a beautiful city in Jammu and Kashmir. It is known for its pristine lakes, houseboats and Mughal-era gardens. It is a popular tourist destination.
Accurate weather in srinagar will help you plan your trip accordingly. The 14-day temperature graph shows the average temperature and rainfall trends. The deviation of the mean is shown as a coloured line in the graph.
Baisakhi
Baisakhi is a festival of harvest, honouring the earth’s abundance and the hard work of agricultural communities. It also serves as a time for thanksgiving and renewal. It is celebrated every year in April on the 13th or 14th of Vaisakh, depending on tithi in the Hindu calendar.
The celebrations include kirtans, prayers, and langars, which are community feasts that are served to all. The festival is especially important to the Sikh community, who consider it a religiously significant day. In the past, people from all backgrounds participated in the festivities. The procession would start with a bang, and everyone would join in, dancing to the beat of drums and trumpets.
Many Sikhs also visit their local Gurdwaras to attend prayers and kirtans. All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said that gurdwaras across Kashmir hosted Kertans and programmes on the occasion of Baisakhi. The largest programme was held at Chatti Padshahi in Rainawari in downtown Srinagar. The Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, visited the gurdwara to extend his warm greetings on the occasion.
Lohri
The Punjabi harvest festival, Lohri is a joyous occasion that comes as a welcome respite from the cold winter and the onset of longer days. It is also a time to celebrate new beginnings like births, marriages and reunions. The celebrations revolve around bonfires and sweet delicacies. People exchange beautiful messages, greet one another and dance to the beats of dhol. Traditional dishes like makki di roti and sarson ka saag are cooked and shared among family members.
Lohri is celebrated on the eve of Makar Sankranti in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. It is a time to thank the gods for a prosperous harvest season and pray for more blessings.
It also marks the shortest night of the year. In Punjab, a large bonfire is lit in the backyard after the rabi crops are chopped and small idols of the Lohri goddess are placed in it. People circle the bonfire while singing folk songs and offering peanuts, rewari and makhana to it as an act of worship. The popular song ‘Lodi’ from the film Veer Zaara re-popularized this tradition.
Gurez Festival
The picturesque landscapes of Gurez Valley in northern Jammu and Kashmir woke up to a scenic layer of fresh snow on Sunday. The area is famous for its pristine locale, breathtaking views of the snow-capped mountains and limpid water for river rafting. Foreign tourists visit this remote valley, where the people speak Sheena language and have an ancestral connection with Gilgit-Bandipora region now in Pakistan.
The pristine locales and unique culture of the area attracts adventure enthusiasts from across the country. In order to boost tourism in the region, an event called Jashn-e-Gurez was held on Saturday. The three-day event showcased the cuisine, culture, customary handicrafts and sports of the unexplored Valley.
Locals welcomed the initiative and said that it will give a fillip to the tourism sector. They added that since the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism had been hit but the festival will provide a boost to the industry. Moreover, it will also provide employment opportunities to the youth. The organisers of the event also highlighted various adventure activities including paramotoring, hot air balloon rides, tug of war and volleyball.
Kheer Bhawani Festival
The Kheer Bhawani Festival marks one of the most important spiritual events for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community. Held on the auspicious day of ‘Zyeth Ashtami’, it is a vibrant fair that takes place at the temple dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi (also known as the Mata Kheer Bhawani). It is built over a sacred spring in Tulamula village in Ganderbal district.
The resurgence of this event is a testament to the faith and resilience of the displaced communities. It reflects the aspirations of the people for reconciliation and restoration. It also embodies the spirit of reclaiming cultural spaces that were lost in the wake of the violence.
As such, the celebrations are characterized by a strong bond of camaraderie between Muslims and Hindus. Local Muslims traditionally offer milk in earthen pots to the devotees, while they also set up stalls of puja paraphernalia, such as incense sticks and diyas, to convey a message of communal harmony. This exemplifies the inclusive spirit of the Kheer Bhawani Mela and is a reflection of the resurgence of Kashmiriyat.
Amarnathji Yatra
The annual Amarnathji Yatra is a pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva. It is a strenuous trek and requires proper physical fitness. This year, despite the ongoing threat of Covid-19, thousands of devotees have embarked on this perilous journey. The yatra has been organized by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, with a number of facilities and services offered to pilgrims.
The best time to visit Amarnath is from February to March, when the weather is mild and dry. However, you must keep in mind that the yatra is not recommended for people who are not accustomed to high altitude trekking and the harsh weather conditions of Kashmir.
To make your trip safe and secure, you should follow the step-by-step registration process well ahead of time. Also, get yourself medically checked and practice a rigorous fitness regime to prepare for the arduous trek. You should also carry adequate warm clothing, rain gear, and high-energy food. You should also avoid alcohol and smoking. Moreover, it is advisable to travel in a group and stay away from shortcuts as they may lead to dangerous terrains.