Jammu & Kashmir Famous Festivals and the Raghunath Temple

Famous Festivals of Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir celebrate a rich mix of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Buddhist festivals. The Dogra heartland of Jammu is home to some of India's most devout celebrations.

Jammu & Kashmir Famous Festival Names

• Maha Shivratri (Herath) — The most important festival of the Kashmiri Pandit community, observed with walnut and rice offerings.
• Navratri — Thousands of devotees begin the Vaishno Devi Yatra during the nine nights of Navratri.
• Jhiri Mela — A December fair near Jammu honouring farmer Baba Jitu, famous for its bazaar and folk performances.
• Urs at Charar-e-Sharif — The Sufi shrine festival of Kashmir, drawing pilgrims from across the valley.
• Hemis Festival — The world-famous masked-dance festival at Hemis Gompa in Ladakh (if extended to the region).
• Lohri & Baisakhi — Harvest celebrations marked with bonfires and traditional Dogri songs.

Raghunath Temple, Jammu

The Raghunath Temple in Jammu is a cluster of seven spired temples dedicated to Lord Rama, built by Maharaja Gulab Singh and his successors in the 19th century. It houses one of the largest collections of idols in India, with hundreds of images of Hindu deities in the central shrine.

Timings: Open from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Aarti takes place each morning and evening.

How to reach: The temple is in the heart of Jammu city, a short drive from Jammu Tawi railway station and about 12 km from Jammu airport.

Plan a Jammu & Kashmir Yatra

Combine a Raghunath Temple visit with the Vaishno Devi Yatra and a Kashmir valley tour. Holiday Mitra offers Vaishno Devi packages from Delhi and Mumbai with hotel stays in Katra.