Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhaderwah, popularly known as ‘Chota Kashmir’ and the ‘land of purple revolution’, will host the two-day Lavender Festival 2026 from May 31 at an unprecedented scale, with leading figures from the national aroma industry expected to participate, officials said on Thursday.
Lavender cultivation has given the small town in Doda district a distinct national identity and a role in India’s growth story, officials said.
“The Lavender Festival 2026 will be held on May 31 and June 1 at an unprecedented scale, with national aroma industry leaders expected to be present in Bhaderwah,” Director of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, told reporters here.
Tracing the journey of the Aroma Mission, he said it began as a small project in 2014 under the guidance of Union Minister and CSIR Vice President Dr Jitendra Singh. “From one farm, lavender cultivation has now expanded across this region and to states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the northeastern region,” he said.
Describing the festival as CSIR-IIIM’s annual flagship event in the region, Ahmed said it aims to promote aromatic crops and strengthen farmers’ enterprises.
He also announced that under Phase IV of the Aroma Mission, a Centre of Excellence is being planned at Bhaderwah in Doda district to provide assured markets, value addition facilities and training for local youth. “We will press for this centre to be established this season itself,” he said.
Officials said that the CSIR-Aroma Mission has played a key role in promoting lavender cultivation in the temperate regions of Jammu and Kashmir, with the objective of enhancing farmers’ income and encouraging agri-based startups. Over 30 lakh free lavender plants were distributed last year among farmers across districts, along with end-to-end technological support for cultivation, processing, value addition and marketing, they said.
“More than 2,500 farmers are currently cultivating lavender, transforming it into a viable industry for small and marginal farmers, particularly in the Jammu region”, officials added.
