SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 04, 2026 : The Kashmiri Pandit community celebrated Janmashtami with religious fervour and enthusiasm in Srinagar on Friday, organising a colourful Shobha Yatra through several prominent areas of the city.
The procession passed through Habba Kadal, Regal Chowk and Lal Chowk before returning to the main venue. Elaborate security arrangements were put in place to ensure the peaceful conduct of the celebrations.
The festival, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, holds deep religious and cultural significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community. Organisers said the occasion also serves as a symbol of community harmony and togetherness, bringing people from different communities together.
A Kashmiri Pandit leader recalled that Janmashtami celebrations were held in Srinagar before the 1990s, but were disrupted as the situation in the Valley deteriorated. The community revived the Shobha Yatra in 2007, and has continued the tradition every year since.
The celebrations witnessed participation from Kashmiri Pandits as well as members of other communities. Friends, relatives and local residents joined the festivities, reflecting the spirit of communal harmony.
Adding colour to the celebrations, several children were seen dressed in traditional Kashmiri attire, carrying small idols of Lord Krishna during the procession.
The Shobha Yatra passed peacefully under heightened security, bringing a vibrant display of faith, tradition and cultural unity to the streets of Srinagar.
