Festivals in ShivKhori

Best Times for festivals in Shivkhori

Maha Shivratri Mela (for 3 days): This is the Biggest festival in Shivkhori. It is held every year around the months of Feb–Mar (Hindu month of Phalgun). Maha Shivratri Mela is officially a three-day fair at Ransoo, that is the base camp for the Shiv Khori cave.

Sawan (Shravan) Mondays: One of the most-loved festivals in Shivkhori style seasons.It is held on every Monday of July–August (Sawan). In Sawan month, extra devotees comes for jalabhishek and Special puja.

Other Celebration days: Devotees also come on Masik Shivratri that is celebrated monthly, and in the Months of Kartik Purnima/Diwali. These Dates changes each year, so always keep a check on official pages.

Maha Shivratri Mela — the biggest of all festivals in Shivkhori

Maha Shivratri is celebrated as the most special festival of Lord Shiva. Maha Shivratri is the night when Shivji married Mata Parvati ji. On this night, Lord Shiva showed his endless power to the world. on this day, Devotees fast, pray, and they stay awake whole night, chanting “Om Namah Shivaya.”

This is the heart of festivals in Shivkhori. For three days, Ransoo turns into a devotional fair with aarti, bhajans, and well-managed queues for cave darshan. Official district pages clearly say that a large fair is held on Shivratri day and it continues for three days.

What happened in 2025

Authorities announced the mela would start on 25 February 2025 at Ransoo, Reasi.
Local reports at the end of the mela said it concluded on 27 February 2025 and noted about 91,788 devotees paying obeisance over the three days. (Numbers vary year to year, but this gives you a real scale.)

Why families love it:

Strong spiritual feeling in the hills, steady management by the Shrine Board and district teams, and a festive village setting right at Ransoo. This is the best time if you want the most vibrant experience of festivals in Shivkhori.

How to plan (simple):

Reach early, keep water, and follow the queue.
Use official prepaid counters for pony/palki/pithoo if you are traveling with elders.
Deposit phones/cameras at the cloak room before the cave (standard rule). These simple steps make festivals in Shivkhori smooth for everyone.

Sawan (Shravan) Mondays — monsoon devotion Festival at Shiv Khori

Sawan Mondays are very special for Lord Shiv devotees. In this month, the “Sagar manthan happened” and then a deadly poison came out. Lord Shiv drank it to save the world. Devotees offer water, milk, and bilva leaves on Mondays of Shravan to thank Him.

If you prefer devotion with calmer crowds than a mela, the Sawan month is the gentler face of festivals in Shivkhori. Every Monday, devotees come for jalabhishek and aarti; the green hills and cool air add to the peace. In July 2025, local coverage reported large gatherings on the first Sawan Monday at Shiv Khori, showing how active this season is every year.

Why it works for families:

Prayerful pace, space to move with children and elders, and a steady darshan flow. You still feel the depth of festivals in Shivkhori, but with more time to breathe.

Tips:

Come early on Mondays. Carry a light rain jacket in monsoon. Follow the on-ground instructions by the Shrine Board volunteers so everyone gets an easy darshan.

Other Festivals in Shivkhori

While Maha Shivratri and Sawan Mondays define festivals in Shivkhori, devotees also mark:

Masik Shivratri: Monthly observance (night before Amavasya). Good if you want a quiet, focused visit with your family while still being part of the cycle of festivals in Shivkhori.
Kartik Purnima & Diwali (Oct–Nov): Evenings are full of light near the cave and at Ransoo. Pleasant weather makes the walk comfortable. For dates and any special arrangements in a given year, rely on official Shrine Board updates.

What to expect during festivals in Shivkhori:

Place & base: All activity centers around Ransoo (Reasi), the base camp for Shiv Khori. Official pages describe Ransoo as the gateway to the holy cave.
Three-day mela flow: Day 1 often opens with formal reviews and arrangements; Day 2 is peak; Day 3 concludes the mela. The 2025 example shows this pattern clearly (25–27 Feb).
Facilities: During festivals in Shivkhori, authorities arrange lights, drinking water points, sanitation and crowd control for the Ransoo–cave stretch. For do’s and don’ts, the official site is your anchor.
Culture & bhakti: You will likely hear bhajans, see small stalls, and meet volunteers guiding queues. The feeling is devotional and disciplined—ideal for families and first-time visitors to Shivkhodi/Shiv Khori.

FAQ’s for Festivals in Shivkhori

Q1. When is the Maha Shivratri Mela?
Every year around Feb–Mar (3 days). In 2025 it ran 25–27 Feb. Always check the current year’s notice.

Q2. Is Sawan busy at Shiv Khori?
Yes. Mondays of Sawan see bigger crowds, with jalabhishek and aarti. In July 2025 the first Monday drew large numbers. Start early.

Q3. Where to confirm dates/changes?
Use the official Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board website and the District Reasi pages for authentic, latest updates on festivals in Shivkhori.

Q4. Are mobile phones allowed inside the cave during festivals in Shivkhori?
No, Mobiles are not allowed in ShivKhori cave. You have to Deposit phones/cameras in the cloak room before entering the cave. Devotees must Follow all instructions given by the Shrine Board, it keeps darshan smooth.

Q5. How big are the crowds?
It changes each year. A local 2025 report said ~91,788 devotees over the three days of the mela. This helps you plan some extra time that will be used in standing in queue.

Keep it simple, keep it sacred

Whether you come for the Maha Shivratri Mela, the Sawan Mondays, or a quiet Masik Shivratri, the feeling of festivals in Shivkhori is the same, that is calm, careful, and respectful. Check official notices for exact dates and timings, reach Ransoo with time in hand, and follow the instructions. Your family will feel safe, steady, and close to Mahadev—and your search for festivals in Shivkhori will end with real, useful answers.

Some of projects undertaken are construction of Guest House at village Ransoo, Reception Centre and Pony shed, tile work of entire 3-km long track is nearing completion, plantation of ornamental and medicinal plants on track and development of parks etc.

In addition to these other arrangements like electrification of the cave with modern techniques, provision of oxygen and electric generators, exhaust fans, construction of shelter sheds for yatris with toilet facilities near the cave site, 15 shelter sheds enroute Ransoo to cave shrine, railing from the base camp to cave, additional facility of 15,000 gallons drinking water reservoir, proper sanitation, provision of 25 KV capacity electric transformer, clock room, starting of permanent bus services from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu, Police post and Dispensary and a STD PCO are under active consideration of the Shiv Khori Shrine Development Board