The two-day Lavender Festival 2026 concluded in Bhaderwah on Sunday with stakeholders from the government, scientific community, industry and farming sector reaffirming their commitment to transform the region into a globally recognised centre for lavender cultivation, processing and aroma-based entrepreneurship. Organised by the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) under the CSIR Aroma Mission, the festival brought together farmers, startup founders, scientists, industry leaders, students and policymakers under the theme “Lavender Goes Global.” The event highlighted the remarkable journey of Bhaderwah from a traditional agricultural region to what is increasingly being recognised as India’s Lavender Capital. The second day of the festival featured technical sessions, industry interactions, buyer-seller meetings and presentations by successful entrepreneurs and farmers. Representatives from leading aroma and fragrance companies shared market insights and explored opportunities for strengthening linkages between growers and industry players. Startup founders and innovators also showcased value-added products and discussed emerging opportunities in the lavender ecosystem.

Addressing the valedictory session, Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, said the overwhelming response to the two-day festival reflected the growing success of the Aroma Mission and the vision outlined by Hon’ble Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh during the inauguration of the festival. He said the Hon’ble Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh’s call to take “Lavender Goes Global” beyond a slogan and transform it into a practical roadmap for farmers, entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders would guide future efforts of CSIR-IIIM and its partners. Dr. Ahmed noted that the festival had successfully connected farmers, startups, scientists and industry leaders on a common platform and generated meaningful discussions on cultivation, processing, value addition and market expansion. He said the objective of linking cultivation with entrepreneurship, innovation and market access had been effectively achieved through the various sessions and interactions held over the two days. Highlighting the festival’s theme, he said the vision of taking Bhaderwah’s lavender sector to the global stage would require sustained efforts from all stakeholders. While the region has already earned national recognition for lavender cultivation, he said the next challenge is to establish Bhaderwah as an internationally recognised centre for aroma-based industries. He called for detailed documentation of the discussions and action points emerging from the festival so that they could be incorporated into future strategies under the next phase of the Aroma Mission.

Dr. Ahmed credited farmers for the success of the lavender movement, describing them as the driving force behind the Purple Revolution in Jammu and Kashmir. He said scientific institutions and government agencies could provide technology, training and market support, but the real transformation had been achieved through the dedication and hard work of local growers. He also outlined future priorities, including improved processing facilities, enhanced distillation systems, value addition, branding and tourism integration to maximise economic returns for farmers.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaderwah, Sunil Kumar Bhutyal, who graced the occasion as the guest, lauded the partnership between the district administration and CSIR-IIIM and described it as a key factor behind Bhaderwah’s emergence as a nationally recognised centre for lavender cultivation and aroma entrepreneurship. He said the collaboration had played a vital role in transforming Bhaderwah into a nationally recognised centre for lavender cultivation and aroma entrepreneurship. Bhutyal attributed the success of the Aroma Mission to the combined efforts of scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs and policymakers. He acknowledged the support and vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in promoting lavender cultivation as a viable source of income for rural communities and in bringing national attention to Bhaderwah’s lavender movement. He emphasised the need to further expand cultivation, strengthen market linkages and increase value-addition activities so that local growers could secure better returns. Highlighting Bhaderwah’s tourism potential, he said the region offers much more than lavender fields, including scenic landscapes, adventure tourism, horticulture, religious tourism, rich cultural traditions and unique local cuisine. Inviting visitors to return, he urged them to become ambassadors of Bhaderwah and share their experiences with others.

Earlier in welcome address, Principal Scientist and Nodal Officer of the CSIR Aroma Mission, Dr. Suphla Gupta, said the success of the mission is the result of year-round teamwork and continuous engagement with farmers, entrepreneurs, startups and other stakeholders. She noted that the mission extends beyond cultivation and includes processing, value addition, product development, marketing and addressing challenges faced by growers and startups at every stage of the value chain. Dr. Gupta encouraged entrepreneurs and exhibitors to learn from their interactions with visitors, industry representatives and fellow stakeholders. She said such exchanges provide valuable insights that can help improve products, business models and marketing strategies. Appreciating the enthusiasm displayed by participants and visitors, she described Bhaderwah as a place that combines natural beauty with immense entrepreneurial potential and urged stakeholders to continue spreading the fragrance of success through innovation, cooperation and sustained efforts.

A special felicitation ceremony was also held during the valedictory session, where progressive farmers, entrepreneurs, startup founders, industry stakeholders, exhibitors, scientists and officials associated with the successful organisation of the festival were honoured for their contributions to the growth of the lavender sector and the success of the Aroma Mission. The recognitions highlighted the collective efforts of all stakeholders in advancing Bhaderwah’s Purple Revolution and strengthening the region’s emerging aroma economy. The festival also served as a platform for successful farmers to share their experiences of adopting lavender cultivation and benefiting from the Aroma Mission. Several participants highlighted how lavender has emerged as a profitable alternative to traditional crops, creating new opportunities for income generation and rural entrepreneurship.

Other senior scientists present included Er. Abdul Rahim, Scientist-G and Head, RMBD&IST Division and IIIM Branch Srinagar; Dr. Asha Chaubey, Scientist-G and Head, Fermentation and Microbial Biotechnology Division; Dr. Dhiraj Vyas, Scientist-F and Head, Plant Sciences and Agrotechnology Division; Dr. Sumit G. Gandhi, Scientist-F and Head, Infectious Diseases Division; and Dr. Amit Nargotra, Scientist-F, Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry Division. Scientists, researchers, startup founders and representatives from the aroma industry also participated in the event.