Purple bloom in ‘Chota Kashmir’: Bhaderwah to host lavender festival

Known as “ Chota Kashmir ”, the picturesque town of Bhaderwah will host the Lavender Festival 2026 on May 31 and June 1, showcasing its emergence as a hub of India’s “purple revolution” driven by lavender cultivation.

Officials said the two-day festival will be held on an unprecedented scale , with leading figures from the national aroma and essential oils industry expected to participate. Organised by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, the event aims to promote aromatic crops and strengthen farmer-led enterprises in the region.

IIIM Director Zabeer Ahmed said the initiative traces back to the Aroma Mission , launched in 2014 under the guidance of Union Minister Jitendra Singh . What began as a small pilot project has now expanded significantly, spreading from Bhaderwah to states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and parts of the Northeast.

Bhaderwah’s transformation into the “land of the purple revolution” reflects a shift towards high-value aromatic crops, boosting incomes of small and marginal farmers while creating new employment avenues. The region’s lavender fields have also started attracting tourists, adding to the local economy.

Officials noted that the CSIR-Aroma Mission has been central to this growth, providing farmers with free planting material, training, and end-to-end support in cultivation, processing and marketing. Last year alone, over 30 lakh lavender plants were distributed, and more than 2,500 farmers are now engaged in lavender farming.

Plans are also underway to establish a Centre of Excellence in Bhaderwah to ensure market linkages, value addition and skill development, further cementing its role in India’s agri-driven growth story.