This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Srinagar’s festival calendar follows both the Islamic lunar calendar and the seasons, so several key dates shift by about ten days each year. Here are the Srinagar events and festivals worth planning a trip around, with the season you can expect each one. This calendar is part of the complete Srinagar guide.
Srinagar Festivals in Spring: March to May
Tulip Festival (late March to mid-April)
The Tulip Festival marks the opening of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, usually in the last week of March, when more than 1.5 million tulips in dozens of varieties bloom across the 30-hectare garden at the base of the Zabarwan range. The bloom lasts about three to four weeks. Entry is ₹60 for adults and ₹25 for children. The festival draws the year’s biggest tourist crowds, so visit on a weekday morning. The garden is profiled in the things to do in Srinagar list.
Baisakhi (April 13 or 14)
Baisakhi, the Punjabi and Kashmiri harvest festival, falls on April 13 or 14 and marks the start of the solar new year. In Srinagar the day is marked by fairs, kite flying, and family gatherings rather than a single central event. Expect parks and the lakeside to be busy with local families.
Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha (dates vary)
The two Eids follow the lunar calendar and move forward about ten days each year. Eid-ul-Fitr ends Ramadan with morning prayers at Hazratbal Shrine and the Jama Masjid, followed by feasting and family visits. Eid-ul-Adha falls about two months later and is marked by communal prayers and the sharing of meat. Shops may close for the prayer hours, and transport can be crowded on the preceding days.
Srinagar Festivals in Summer: June to August
Shikara Festival (July to August)
The Shikara Festival on Dal Lake is a tourism-department event, typically held in July or August, that races decorated shikaras, holds canoe polo and water-sport demonstrations, and showcases Kashmiri music and crafts along the boulevard. Dates are announced a few weeks ahead each year, so check with your hotel or the tourism office once you arrive. For the best season to visit, see the best time to visit Srinagar guide.
Amarnath Yatra (late June to August)
The Amarnath Yatra is a major Hindu pilgrimage to the ice lingam in the Amarnath cave, which runs from late June through August, with the main surge in July. Srinagar is not on the pilgrimage route itself, but the highway corridors to Pahalgam and Sonamarg see heavy traffic and some road restrictions during this period. July averages 30°C with afternoon rain, as shown in the Srinagar weather by month data. If you are not joining the yatra, avoid those roads on peak weekends.
Independence Day (August 15)
August 15 is a public holiday marked by flag-raising ceremonies and, in some years, heightened security in the city centre. Government offices and some shops close. It is a quiet day for sightseeing rather than a festival, and the lakeside remains open as normal.
Srinagar Festivals in Autumn and Winter: September to February
Navratri and Dussehra (September to October)
Navratri, a nine-night Hindu festival, and Dussehra, which falls on the tenth day, are celebrated at the Shankaracharya and other city temples with evening prayers and, for Dussehra, the burning of effigies. Dates shift with the lunar calendar, landing between late September and late October. For practical advice on attending, see the Srinagar travel tips page.
Kashmir Autumn and the Chinar Season (October to November)
October and early November are not a formal festival but are treated as one locally: the chinar trees along Boulevard Road, in the Mughal gardens, and around the university campus turn gold and deep red, and the tourism department promotes the autumn as a travel season. This is the best window for photography and the least crowded pleasant season of the year. The boulevard and gardens are mapped in the Srinagar neighborhoods guide.
Urs at Hazratbal and Other Shrines (dates vary)
Urs observances mark the anniversaries of Sufi saints at shrines around the city, including Hazratbal, with evening prayers, qawwali music, and communal meals. Dates follow the Islamic calendar. Visitors are welcome to observe quietly; dress modestly and follow the lead of local worshippers.
New Year and Winter Festivities (December to January)
Late December and early January bring New Year crowds to the houseboats and a modest winter festival with snow activities at Gulmarg, about 50 km away. Dal Lake occasionally freezes in the harshest winters, a rare sight that draws photographers. Book New Year stays weeks ahead, since lakefront properties sell out; compare properties in the where to stay in Srinagar guide.
