Srinagar, June 18: The North Kashmir Cultural Festival-2026, titled Shaam-e-Shafqat, was organised at Zorawar Hall, Pattan, on Thursday. The event was jointly hosted by the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Indian Army.
The festival brought together artists from Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Manipur and Odisha, who presented a range of folk performances representing the cultural traditions of their respective regions.
The programme featured folk dances, traditional music and cultural presentations aimed at showcasing the diversity of India’s heritage. Through these performances, the festival highlighted the country’s cultural traditions and promoted the message of unity among different communities.
The event also focused on preserving and promoting traditional art forms while providing an opportunity for the youth of North Kashmir to engage with cultures from across the country.
Students and members of civil society from various parts of North Kashmir attended the festival. Participants appreciated the initiative, which encouraged cultural exchange and strengthened awareness of the nation’s diverse traditions.
Organisers said the festival served as a platform for promoting cultural understanding, social harmony and national integration through artistic and cultural engagement.