Lohri This festival heralds the culmination of cold weather and is celebrated a day before
Makar Sankranti. In rural areas, it is customary for young boys to go around asking for gifts from newlyweds and parents of newborns. Lohri in
Dogra households of Jammu is special because of various additional traditions associated with it like
Chajja making,
Hiran Dance, Dandaraas and preparing Lohri garlands. Young children prepare a replica of peacock which is known as
Chajja. They carry this
Chajja and then go from one house to other house celebrating Lohri. A special dance is performed using this
Chajja on the occasion of
Lohri. It makes a striking picture to see boys along with their
Chajjas elaborately decorated with coloured paper and flowers dance on the street in a procession. The whole atmosphere of Jammu comes alive with pulsating drumbeats. Besides, dancing boys strike sticks on rhythm of a drum as in
Raslila. This is known as
Dandaraas. In and around Jammu, special
Hiran Dance is performed. Dancers disguise themselves as deer and dance on tune of
Hirana songs. They visit selected houses which have auspicious ceremonies & have prepared eatables. Children wear special garlands made of groundnuts, dry fruits and candies on Lohri day. Special eatable is prepared using sesame, rice and groundnuts which is known as
Tilcholi. Pageant of
Sassi-Punnu, two lovers of
Sindhi folk tradition are also taken out on camels during the festival. Alternatively, terms
Attrain or
Attrani have also been used to describe this festival. A day before Lohri is celebrated by
Dogras to commemorate end of
Poh (
Pausha) month. It is also beginning the
Magha month as per Hindu Solar Calendar, hence also known as
Maghi Sangrand (
Sankranti of
Magh month). Among
Dogras, there is a tradition of
Mansana (charity) of
Khichdi of
Maah Dal.
Khichdi of
Maah di Dal is also prepared on this day and that is why this day is also referred to as
Khichdi wala Parva. There is also a tradition of sending
Khichdi & other food items to house of married daughters. Fairs are organised on holy places and pligrimages on this day. Dhagwal in
Hiranagar tehsil is known for Fair on
Makar Sankranti and
Janamashtami. People of Jammu also take holy bath in Devika river and pilgrimages like
Uttar Behni and
Purmandal on this occasion. This day is also celebrated as birth anniversary of Baba Ambo ji, a local deity of Jammu region. At Vasuki temple of
Bhaderwah of Jammu, the idols of Vasuki Nag are covered on
Magh Sankranti and they are uncovered only after three months on
Vaisakha Sankranti.
Bhugga (Sankashti Chaturthi) This festival is celebrated on fourth day of
Krishna Paksha of
Magha month of
Hindu Calendar. It is celebrated in reverence to Hindu God
Ganesha and is also known as
Sankashti Chaturthi.
Dogra women perform
Arghya to
Chandrama at night.
Bhugga (Til Jaggery mixture) and Radish are donated and eaten to complete the fast.
Basant Panchami Basant Panchami festival is dedicated for worship of
Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning, arts and music and for welcoming
Spring Season. People wear yellow or saffron or orange colored clothes on this day.
Saffron colored food items are prepared and offered as
Naivedhya to Goddess Saraswati. People sing folk songs like Aayi Basant, Paala Udant. This day is also special for
Dogras because on Basant Panchami of year 1944,
Dogri Sanstha came into existence.
Kan Chauth (Gauri Chaturthi) It is observed on fourth day of
Shukla Paksha of
Magha month of
Hindu Calendar in the hill districts & tehsils of Jammu Division especially
Bhaderwah,
Doda,
Kishtwar and
Ramban. A day before
Gauri Tritiya is also observed by some communities. This festival is observed by married woman similar to
Karwa Chauth, only difference being fast is completed here after
Gauri Puja in the day. Goddess Gauri is worshipped for long life and health of husbands by women. The festivity remains for three days. During these three days, ladies go in the neighborhood to offer ‘
Thel’ (respect) to other women and get in return their blessing ‘
Suhagan Bho’ (Live long your husband).
Holi Holi is celebrated in traditional way in Jammu. On the eve of Holi,
Holika Dahan is performed. The next day people enjoy by playing with colors. Earlier people used to decorate themselves using special headgears which were prepared using colored papers and silver ribbons. These were known as
Patangi. A
Dogra sweet dish
Khaste (similar to
Gujjiya) is prepared on this day. A three-day fair is organised at Narsingh Dev temple in
Kathua.
Ram Naumi (Rama Navami) Rama Navami, the birth of
Shri Rama is celebrated with religious fervour & gaiety all across Jammu. The day also coincides with culmination of nine-day long
Navaratra festival. Special function on Rama Navami is held in the historical
Raghunath Temple in Jammu city where large number of devotees pay their obeisance to
Lord Rama. Even during Dogra rule, the rulers would personally visit Raghunath Mandir and offer worship to Shri Rama, their patron deity. Besides, worship and offerings to the deity inside the temple, there are a number of discourses on
Bhagwan Ram's life and
Ramayana. On this auspicious occasion,
Shobha Yatra is taken out. Images of
Shri Rama,
Mata Sita &
Lakshman and number of tableaux depicting scenes from
Ramayana are taken out in a grogeous procession. Devotees shower flower petals on the Shobha Yatra. Number of market unions and Hindu organisations, organise
Bhandaras on this occasion.
Basoa (Vishuva) or Baisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) The name
Baisakhi is taken from the first month of the
Hindu Vikram calendar. It is celebrated on the first day of
Vaisakh month and marks the day of
Mesha Sankranti. It is also known as '
Basoa' in
Dogri. On this day, devotees get up early in the morning, throng the rivers, canals, and ponds and take a ritual dip every year on this occasion. In
Dogra households, a
Puja is performed afterwards and part of food crop is offered to the deities. New fruit of the year is enjoyed on this day. A Ritual Bath at
Tawi river during Baisakhi is common in Jammu. Baisakhi is celebrated at
Udhampur on the bank of Devika river where for three days devotees enjoy the folk songs. At
Sudhmahadev, this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show where folk singers come down and a competition of folk songs is held. Vendors generally install their shops and stalls of eatables. Baisakhi is also considered "harvest festival" and considered auspicious, especially for marriages. Celebrations of Baisakhi also include
Dogri Bhangra which is closely related to Punjabi variant, with respect to actions, costumes and songs. The occasion is marked by numerous fairs and people come by the thousands to celebrate Baisakhi. For example, Airwan in
Kathua is known for Baisakhi fair attended by 10,000 people as per Census 1961. Every year on Baisakhi festival around 15,000 pilgrims pay their obeisance at 700 tear old temple of Subar Nag Devta temple in
Bhaderwah. Other places where Baisakhi fairs are held are
Doda Bridge and
Ramban.
Bahu Mela (March–April and September–October) A major festival is held at the
Kali Temple in Bahu Fort twice a year.
Chaitre Chaudash (March–April) Chaitre Chaudash is celebrated at Uttar Behni and Purmandal, about and from Jammu respectively. Uttar Behni gets its name from the fact that the Devak River (locally also known as Gupt Ganga) flows here in the northerly direction.
Purmandal Mela (February–March) Purmandal is from Jammu city. On
Shivratri the town wears a festive look for three days as people celebrate the marriage of Lord Shiva to the Goddess
Parvati. The people of Jammu also come out in their colourful best to celebrate Shivratri at Peer Khoh Cave Temple, the Ranbireshwar Temple, and the Panjbhaktar Temple. In fact, if one visits Jammu during
Shivratri, one finds a celebration going on almost everywhere.
Dhamdeh (Dharma Dhihada - Aashada Sankranti) & Nirjala Ekadashi Both of these festivals are celebrated similarly.
Dhamdeh also known as
Dharma Dhihada or
Dharma Divas is celebrated on
Sankranti of
Aashadha month. People take a ritual bath and perform
Mansana (charity) of
hand fans, water pitchers and seasonal fruits like
melons. These donations are made in name of
Pitras (ancestors). Major celebration is people offering sweet water drinks and food to poor and needy. Similar rituals are observed on
Nirjala Ekadashi ( celebrated on
Jyestha Shukla Ekadashi) where in addition a strict
Vrata is observed in honour of
Lord Vishnu.
Rutt Raahde & Sakolade (Shravana Sankranti) Rutt Raahde is a festival celebrated by
Dogra women of all ages from
Aashada Sankranti to
Shravana Sankranti. The last day i.e. Shravana Sankranti is referred to as
Sakolade or
Minjraan. Young girls and women collect necks of broken earthen pitchers and insert them into ground. Seeds of
Kharif crops are sown inside these pitchers. These are known as
Raahde which are then decorated with
rangoli patterns using natural colors. Every Sunday, women would assemble and sing folk songs and enjoy eatables like
Rutt,
Gheur &
Pudas, at the site where
Raahde are inserted. On the last day of festival i.e.
Badda Rutt, women would again assemble, sing folk songs, enjoy eatables and finally immerse the
Raahde in water bodies. The final day i.e. Shravana Sankranti is also known as
Sakolade (named after the ear ornaments that are worn during this day.) In parts of Himachal,
Sakolade are also referred to as
Minjraan.
Thongren Da Vrat (Krishna Janmashtami) Janmashtami in
Dogri is also referred to as
Thongren Da Vrat, meaning
Vrata for Thakur (
Lord Krishna). Some families have tradition of keeping cereal grains in name of
Kul Devtas,
Pitras (ancestors) & family members. This is known as
Deyaa Parna. These cereal grains are then offered to wood of a holy tree called
Jhand. This is known as
Jhand Puja. The wood is covered in sacred cloth called
shoaath. Clay sculptures of a couple and their children are placed on the cloth, and are worshipped. They are offered
Kheer (without sugar) and
Makkhan. This is followed by offering
Dropads (kind of
chapatis) to cows. This practice is called ‘
dropad mansnaa‘. Some people also enjoy swings on tree known as
peengan. At night, people dress up their children like deities. Towns and cities witness several processions. At midnight,
Sund Panjeeri is offered as
Naivedya to Sri Krishna. These are worshipped on water bodies. Soaked
Black chickpeas &
Durva grass is used for Puja. Dogra dishes like
Rutt and
Dropad are used as
Naivedya.
Singh Sankrant (Simha Sankranti) It is celebrated on first day of solar month of
Hindu Calendar i.e.
Bhadrapada. The festival holds special significance in
Ramban district of Jammu division. People visit
Chandrabhaga river and offer floral offerings. It is popularly known by the name
Singh Sankrant. Local tradition traces the origin of festival to
Pandavas.
Tulsi Puja & Panj Bhikham (Bhishma Panchak) Tulsi Puja is performed in
Dogra families from
Kartika Shukla Ekadashi till
Kartika Purnima. This five-day period is known as
Panj Bhikham (
Bhishma Panchak). in
Dogri. They would cover the plant with Red
Dupatta or
Chunni. A fast is also observed on Kartika Shukla Ekadashi in honour of
Lord Vishnu and
Tulsi Mata. Women light up
Diyas from
Ekadashi till
Purnima on Tulsi plant. This ceremony is known as
Deeve in Dogri. Some families may also organize
Tulsi Vivah with
Shaligram. It is believed that Tulsi has got affinity with
Shaligram.
Navratri Festival (September–October) Though the
yatra to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi is a round-the-year event, a pilgrimage undertaken during the
Navratras is considered the most auspicious. In order to showcase and highlight the regional culture,
heritage and traditions of the area during this period, the State Tourism Department has instituted the Navratri Festival as an annual event to be held during September/October for the nine auspicious days of the Navratras. A large number of tourists pay their obeisance to the deity during this period. This festival showcases the religious traditions as well as the popular culture of the region among the millions of
pilgrims who visit the
Vaishnodeviji Shrine during this period.
Rath Kharda Mela An eight-day fair is organised in Narsingh and Annapurna Temple in Ghagwal of
Samba district of Jammu division. This fair involves taking out procession of deity on a
chariot. Hence named
Rath Kharda Mela. Thousands of devotees are drawn from neighbouring states of
Punjab and
Himachal Pradesh and also other parts of Jammu region. People from hilly areas of Jammu like:
Basohli,
Doda,
Kishtwar,
Bani,
Dudu Basantgarh put stalls in this fair and sell the handicrafts and woolen items like
Pattus, blankets & shawls
. During this fair, the temple is decorated with flowers and lights. Devotees visit the temple and pay obeisance to the main deity, Bhagwan Narsimha. A
Bhandara is also organised for the devotees. Local farmers sow their fields in the name of
Bhagwan Narsimha and while harvesting their crops offer a part of it to the temple during this fair. Besides Ghagwal,
Rath Kharda Mela is also held at other places of Jammu division like:
Ramgarh tehsil of
Udhampur district, Parnala village in
Billawar tehsil and Hatli village in
Kathua.
Shivratri (Herath) Shivaratri () is a festival of great significance for Hindus all over the world, especially for those of Kashmiri origin settled in Jammu. On this day, Lord Siva and his spouse Parvati are worshipped with great devotion everywhere in the country. Esoterically, it is symbolic of the mystic union of Jiva (individual soul) with Paramatma (the Supreme Godhead) and it represents the high state of spiritual realization wherein the world of relativity fades away and perfect peace and calm prevail. Along with worshipping 'Shiva' people observe both social and cultural meets on this festival. They rejoice and exchange greetings with friends and relatives. == Education ==