Observed every October 26 as an official public holiday across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Accession Day commemorates the historic constitutional act of 1947 that formally united the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir with the newly independent Dominion of India.
The Instrument of Accession of October 26, 1947
Following the partition of British India in August 1947 under the Indian Independence Act, the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, initially sought to maintain independent sovereign status. However, in late October 1947, tribal militias backed by regular forces from Pakistan invaded the state, executing widespread devastation across Baramulla and advancing toward Srinagar. Faced with the imminent destruction of his realm, Maharaja Hari Singh urgently appealed to the Government of India for military assistance.
In exchange for legal defense assistance, Maharaja Hari Singh executed the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947, surrendering defense, external affairs, and communications to the Government of India. The accession was accepted by Governor-General Lord Mountbatten on October 27, 1947, enabling Indian troops to airlift into Srinagar airport and repel the invading forces. The legal document mirrored the standardized accession covenants signed by over 560 other princely states that integrated into the Indian Union.
Civic Commemorations & Democratic Integration
Officially declared a gazetted public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020, Accession Day is commemorated with flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural exhibitions, and symposiums at universities and civil society venues. Citizens, historians, and veterans pay solemn floral tributes at the Balidan Stambh (Tower of Sacrifice) in Jammu and the Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar, honoring the supreme sacrifices of Brigadier Rajinder Singh (the "Savior of Kashmir", awarded the first Maha Vir Chakra), Major Somnath Sharma (India's first Param Vir Chakra recipient), and local volunteer militias who defended the valley.
