The Saffron Festival – Kashmir

The The Saffron Festival is organized by the Kashmir Tourism Department mainly to promote tourism and to motivate farmers to produce large amount of saffron and help them market their product.

Kashmir is famous worldwide for producing quality saffron. Saffron fields and saffron have been the central attraction in the valley of Kashmir for tourists. Tourists are invited to take part in saffron plucking with the farmers. Farmers earn good amount of profits by doing this and the tourists also gain knowledge of the art of plucking saffron.

Saffron is one of the world's most expen-sive herbal produces. Fertile soil and congenial weather conditions of Kashmir make it an ideal flourishing land for growing this spice.

Celebration

The idea of celebrating the saffron festival (saffron harvest) belongs to the pre-Mughal period. According to history, this festival was first celebrated during the reign of Kashmiri monarch Yousuf Shahi Chak.

Cultivation of saffron is the chief occupation of the natives of Pampore, the 'Saffron Town of Kashmir. Perched in the foothills of Himalayas, it offers a magnificent and exotic sight. The entire Pampore is involved in the production and trade of this important spice. During the festival, there will be cultural programmes that include the folk dances called Kud, Bhand and Dumhal of Kashmir. The festival is celebrated with immense enthusiasm. The most excellent way to experience the taste of Saffron is by preparing it in 'Kahva' - a conventional tea of the Kashmir Valley.

This eight-day fiesta is celebrated in the open fields of saffron along with saffron growers. It is a regular element and an important part of our Indian calendar as it attracts tourists worldwide to the Kashmir Valley especially during the autumn when the fields of saffron are in full bloom.

Time of Festival

The saffron flowers blossom for around three weeks from mid October to first week of November. The festival is organized during that time every year.

Compiled by: Mangai Jaikumar