Kashmir Day
Celebrated on the 5th day of February every year in Pakistan, Kashmir Day is a national holiday throughout Pakistan and is also observed by Kashmiri separatists. It commemorates Pakistan’s unity with and support of the people of Kashmir and their efforts to secede from India.
Pakistan (Public holiday)The division of Kashmir between Pakistan and India has led to considerable hostility and bloodshed over the last seven-plus decades, with wars occurring in the region in 1947, 1965, and finally, in 1999. It’s a day typically marked by rallies and speeches about Kashmir. This holiday is also known as Kashmir Solidarity Day.
The History of Kashmir Day
This day was first proposed in Pakistan in 1990 by Qazi Hussain Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party. The following year, Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the time, called for a Kashmir Solidarity Day strike. It was then declared a public holiday by the Pakistan People’s Party to be observed on February 5th annually.
Facts About Kashmir
Kashmir is a region that spans 86,000 square miles and is located in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. It’s also a region over which India and Pakistan have been fighting since both countries gained their independence in 1947. Between 1989 and 2008, more than 47,000 people were killed in separatist violence, and between 2008 and 2019, over 4,400 people were killed in separatist violence. On October 31, 2019, India downgraded the status of Kashmir; it was officially stripped of statehood and turned into a union territory with Jammu.
Kashmir has more to offer than the strife that has consumed it over the past 70-plus years. It’s also an area rich in culture and history. To provide just a small sample of what Kashmir has to offer visitors, we’ve listed some of the most interesting facts about it.
- Kashmir is often spelled as Cashmere.
- The staple crop of Kashmir is rice, but corn, wheat, and other cereal crops are also grown.
- Due to Kashmir’s climate, beetroot, asparagus, and cabbage all grow well here.
- Kashmir has been called “Paradise on Earth.”
- Kashmir remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
- The ruins of the Martand Sun Temple are located in Kashmir; it was built during the 8th century.
- One of the largest freshwater lakes, Wular Lake, is located in Jammu & Kashmir.
- The Floating Market in Srinagar is the third most popular tourist attraction in Asia.
- The Chenab Bridge is a railway bridge that can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius.
How Is Kashmir Day Observed?
In Pakistan and AJK, both federal and provincial government offices are closed on this day, as are educational institutions and banks. Some businesses in these areas may also close on this day, but many multinational corporations continue to operate as usual. Public transportation is usually available on this day, but roads may be blocked due to Kashmir Day processions and/or parades.
Pakistan (Public holiday)
