The Jammu and Kashmir Republic Day Tableau has secured an impressive Second Position at the national level at the Republic Day Parade 2026, marking a significant milestone and a proud moment for the Union Territory.
The recognition underscores Jammu and Kashmir’s rich cultural heritage, artistic excellence, and its vibrant traditions showcased on one of the country’s most prestigious platforms.
The Jammu and Kashmir tableau, themed as a “living canvas”, presented a visually compelling and culturally immersive narrative, celebrating the region’s centuries-old arts, handicrafts, and folk traditions. The tableau offered a seamless fusion of craftsmanship, performance, and storytelling, reflecting the timeless creative spirit of the Union Territory.
The tableau prominently showcased iconic handicrafts synonymous with Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural identity, including Pashmina weaving, walnut wood carving, carpet weaving, papier-mâché, copperware, and Basohli miniature paintings—each representing generations of refined skill and artistic mastery.
The visual narrative opened with a grand engraved Samovar, symbolising Kashmiri hospitality and warmth, flowing through imagery of traditional wooden architecture and houseboats, evoking the unique cultural landscape of the region. At the heart of the tableau, a Dogra Chhajja performance staged on a traditional village Thadda highlighted community life, social harmony, and cultural continuity.
Adding rhythm, colour, and movement were vibrant folk dance performances, including Rouf, Kud, Jagarna, Pahari, Gojri, and Dumhal, which together reflected the diverse ethnic and cultural fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. The tableau concluded with a striking display of colourful papier-mâché artefacts arranged in a willow basket, symbolically presenting Jammu and Kashmir as a dynamic, living canvas of art, tradition, and creativity.
This acclaimed appearance marks a major comeback of the Jammu and Kashmir tableau at the Republic Day Parade, reaffirming the Union Territory’s renewed cultural presence on the national stage and its commitment to preserving and promoting its rich intangible heritage.
The idea, design, and conceptualisation of the tableau were led by renowned artist Shri Balwant Thakur, a distinguished recipient of the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Shri Thakur has also served as the Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages for eight years and brings with him vast experience in cultural leadership. He has further represented India internationally as Regional Director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and headed Indian Cultural Centres in South Africa and Mauritius.
The national recognition of the Jammu and Kashmir tableau stands as a testament to the Union Territory’s artistic vibrancy, cultural resilience, and its enduring legacy of creativity that continues to inspire audiences across the country and beyond.