Dr Jitendra to Inaugurate 4th Lavender Festival at Bhaderwah on June 6

30/05/2026

New Delhi, May 29: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, is set to organize the 4th Lavender Festival on 6th-7th June, under the theme, "Lavender goes global", at the Government Degree College, Bhaderwah, Doda, celebrating the continued success of the Purple Revolution and lavender-based rural entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a curtain raiser press conference at CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR-IIIM, announced that the 4th Lavender Festival will be inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Vice President CSIR. Dr. Ahmed said that through CSIR-Aroma Mission, a flagship programme of Union Ministry of Science & Technology, under the mentorship of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister and Vice President CSIR, and guidance of Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General CSIR & Secretary DSIR, GoI, the CSIR-IIIM has implemented Aroma Mission in J&K thus empowered the rural communities through lavender cultivation by engaging over 5,000 farmers and young entrepreneurs in remote areas, providing free Quality Planting Material (QPM), support in cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing. During the three phases of this mission completed, more than 50 fixed and mobile distillation units across J&K were installed to support local-level processing of lavender produce.
Dr Ahmed said under the Lavender Festival has emerged as a national platform showcasing the transformation brought by the CSIR-Aroma Mission in remote Himalayan regions, especially Bhaderwah, which has become a major lavender cultivation hub under the Purple Revolution initiative. He said this year's festival will witness enthusiastic participation of scientists, startups, aroma industries, entrepreneurs, policymakers, agri-business stakeholders, students, progressive farmers and representatives of fragrance and wellness companies from across the country.
The Director said the event will feature startup exhibitions, live demonstrations, buyer-seller interactions, technical sessions, farmer-industry networking and displays of value-added lavender and aromatic products developed by local entrepreneurs and startups.
Highlighting the growing impact of the aroma sector, Dr Ahmed said CSIR-IIIM has played a pioneering role in expanding lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir Uttarakhand, north eastern states and Himachal Pradesh through scientific interventions, free quality planting material, distillation technologies, training and entrepreneurship support.
He said thousands of farmers and young entrepreneurs have benefitted from lavender cultivation, while women-led enterprises and startups have also emerged under the mission. Dr Ahmed said the upcoming festival follows a series of precursor events organized to strengthen the aroma ecosystem and market linkages in the region.

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