Omar Abdullah Inaugurates Srinagar Tulip Festival

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed the vibrant arrival of spring on March 16, 2026, as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the annual Tulip Festival at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia's largest such expanse nestled at the foothills of the Zabarwan Range overlooking Dal Lake. The event drew crowds of locals and tourists to the 55-hectare site, where nearly 1.8 million tulips in over 70 varieties bloomed alongside about 100,000 other bulbous flowers, including daffodils, hyacinths, narcissus, and muscari, creating a colorful panorama against the valley's scenic backdrop.

The garden opened about 10 days earlier than its traditional late-March schedule, attributed to warmer February temperatures that accelerated the blooming process. Officials from the Floriculture Department noted that bulbs were planted in phases to extend the display period, with increased density this year for a richer visual impact. Thousands of gardeners and laborers prepared the terraces over recent weeks, transforming the former Siraj Bagh into a floral spectacle spanning reds, oranges, purples, whites, pinks, and yellows.

Abdullah, accompanied by cabinet colleagues and legislators,...