Basohli Utsav 2026: Art, Cartoons and Fun Games
Basohli Utsav 2026 kicked off in Jammu and Kashmir with lively cartoon workshops, traditional Santholia matches, and celebrations of historic local art.
The historic town of Basohli, nestled along the banks of the River Ravi in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, came alive with bright colours, laughter, and creativity on October 19, 2026. This special date marked the beginning of the fourth edition of the three-day Basohli Utsav 2026, which runs through October 21.
Students, teachers, and art lovers gathered to celebrate the area’s rich cultural traditions. The festival showed everyone how centuries-old visual arts, dramatic plays, outdoor playground games, and modern cartoon drawing can all share the same stage!
What happened?
The cultural festival was organised together by four different groups: the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, the Divisional Administration of Jammu, the NGO Vishwasthali, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). The morning began with great energy when Jammu Divisional Commissioner Vikas Kundal flagged off the Jammu–Basohli Bike Ride from the Tawi River Front. About 30 riders carried the national flag on their journey to spread messages about preserving cultural heritage and living a healthy life.
Up at the historic Basohli Fort, a special interactive cartoon workshop opened its doors to curious students from multiple schools. Seven famous cartoonists from different parts of India arrived to guide the young sketchers. The visiting experts included Sagar Kumar from Chhattisgarh, Subhani from Telangana, Manoj Kuril, Madhav Joshi, and Jammu and Kashmir-based artists Manoj Chopra, Chander Shekhar, and Shah Tariq.
The visiting professionals taught the boys and girls how to draw basic outlines, build funny characters, and express clever ideas through visual storytelling. Right outside, visitors could walk through an open-air cartoon gallery displaying artworks focused on helpful community topics like road safety and cleanliness.
Meanwhile, the cheers of excited young athletes echoed across the Ram Leela Grounds in Basohli. Approximately 360 students from 30 different schools competed in lively Santholia tournaments. Teams of boys and girls worked together to knock down and stack flat stones, celebrating an indigenous game that builds teamwork and physical fitness.
The first day of the festival was also packed with cultural learning. Guests attended a ceremonial lamp-lighting at Basohli Fort, a literary seminar examining the famous classic poetic work Geet Govind, and a screening of a documentary film celebrating the town’s artistic treasures.
Why does it matter to you?
Today, it is very easy to spend entire afternoons staring at digital screens or playing video games alone. Festivals like this remind us how exciting it is to step outside, hold a real drawing pencil, and create your own characters from scratch.
You can also discover how traditional outdoor sports like Santholia bring friends together for active fun without needing expensive equipment. Exploring your country’s artistic history helps you appreciate the past while inspiring you to express your own thoughts through drawing and play.
Words to know
- Miniature painting: a very small, detailed style of handmade painting that uses bright colours and fine brushwork.
- Geographical Indication (GI) tag: an official stamp showing that a special handcrafted product comes from a specific town or region.
- Santholia: a traditional Indian outdoor team sport, also called lagori or the seven-stones game, where players aim a ball at a pile of flat stones.
- Ramleela: a traditional dramatic play that retells the life story of Lord Rama.
Did you know?
Basohli is world-renowned for its brilliant miniature paintings, which have earned an official Geographical Indication (GI) tag to protect and honour the town’s unique artistic heritage.
Think about it
If you were asked to design a cartoon for an open-air art exhibition, what positive message about your school or neighbourhood would you draw? Which traditional playground game do you like playing most with your classmates?
Quick quiz
How many schools participated in the Santholia tournament at Basohli Utsav 2026?
- 15 schools
- 30 schools
- 45 schools
See the answer
30 schools
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
