Huge Turnout Marks Successful Conduct of Lolab Winter Carnival at Kariwan Park

Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara: The scenic Kariwan Park in Diver, Lolab, came alive on Sunday as thousands of people participated in the day-long Lolab Winter Carnival 2026.

The carnival was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Balasaheb Suse in the presence of Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara Syed Tahir Al-Gilani and Brigadier 8 Sector RR Kunal Sharma.

Several senior civil and police officials attended the event, including Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Gulzar Ahmad, ASP Syed Javid, ADDC Mufti Fareed-ud-Din, DFO Kamraj Owais Ahmad, CPO Kupwara Imtiyaz Ahmad, ACR Peerzada Mumtaz Ahmad, CEO Tourism, SDM Lolab Mudassir Ahmad, Tehsildar Sogam Saqib Murtaza, DySP Lolab Aatif Ahmad, SHO Showkat Ahmad Darzi, 162 Battalion CRPF CEO besides others.

The event was also attended by DDC Chairman Irfan Pandithpuri, DDC Vice Chairman Haji Farooq Ahmad, DDC Member Kalaroos Rahi Mustafa, AIP Constituency Incharge Lolab Adv. Dawood Bashir Bhat and Peoples’ Conference Constituency Incharge Lolab Dr. Mudassir Akbar Shah and others.

A number of government departments, including Agriculture, Horticulture, Forest, ICDS, Health installed stalls, drawing significant interest from visitors.

The Indian Army also had installed Weapon Display at the venue.

The cultural programme remained a key highlight, with artists from within and outside Kupwara district captivating the audience. Prominent performers included Shafi Sopori and KhushNaseeb Bukhari. The artists were later felicitated with certificates of appreciation for their performances.

Senior journalist Jahangir Lolabi was among host of mediapersons felicitated on the occasion for his notable services in his career, as a mediaperson, spanning almost two decades now.

Residents appreciated the district administration for organising the carnival, saying such events not only promote tourism in the picturesque Lolab valley but also generate livelihood opportunities for local traders, artisans and entrepreneurs. They expressed hope that the Winter Carnival would be institutionalised as an annual event to further strengthen the region’s tourism and economic potential.