CM inaugurates Almond Blossom Festival-2026 at Badamwari
Launches online garden ticketing portal for J&K gardens
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Omar Abdullah on Saturday inaugurated the Almond Blossom Festival 2026, titled Badam Vaer Blooms, at Badamwari in the historic old city of Srinagar, marking the arrival of spring in Kashmir Valley.
The Chief Minister said the Almond Blossom Festival reflects Kashmir’s deep connection with nature and its rich cultural traditions. He described Badamwari as a cherished part of Srinagar’s heritage where blooming almond trees symbolize the arrival of spring along with a spirit of renewal, hope and cultural vibrancy.
Abdullah said festivals such as this play an important role in reviving historic spaces while promoting tourism and creating economic opportunities for local artisans and artists. He added that the event provides a valuable platform to showcase the beauty of Kashmir’s spring season, its cultural heritage, traditional crafts and artistic talent. According to him, such initiatives also help attract tourists and encourage community participation in preserving local heritage. The festival was organized by the Floriculture Department and witnessed participation from senior officials, artists and a large number of visitors, including students and tourists. Among those present were ministers Javid Ahmed Dar and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture Zubair Ahmad, Director Floriculture Mathura Masoom and Director Handicrafts Mussarat-ul-Islam, along with other senior officers, including officials from Jammu & Kashmir Bank.
During his visit, the Chief Minister toured the almond garden and interacted with visitors, many of whom enthusiastically clicked selfies with him, adding to the lively atmosphere at the historic site. He commended the Floriculture Department for developing Badamwari and opening it to the public on time, noting the large number of tourists and locals visiting the garden during the early spring season.
Abdullah also inspected an exhibition set up at the venue where progressive farmers, florists and artisans displayed their produce and handicrafts. He appreciated the stall owners for presenting a wide range of products and praised their efforts in preserving Kashmir’s traditional crafts as well as promoting horticulture and floriculture ventures. The CM also launched an online ticketing portal for gardens across Jammu and Kashmir to simplify the ticketing process and improve visitor convenience. He said the introduction of digital ticketing marks an important step towards modernizing tourist facilities and ensuring a smoother experience for visitors. The online ticketing system has been developed jointly by the Department of Floriculture, Gardens and Parks and J&K Bank. The system supports multiple digital payment options, including debit cards, credit cards, UPI and e-banking. Officials said the initiative will help improve transparency, reduce cash transactions, facilitate better crowd management and provide a convenient and modern experience for the thousands of tourists and locals who visit Jammu and Kashmir’s iconic gardens every year.
