# Kashmir’s August 15 shifts from shutdowns to public participation

2026-08-15T09:46:13+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Independence Day in Kashmir has changed from a day that emptied Srinagar to one marked by wider public participation, Deccan Herald reports. In the early 1990s, roads around Bakshi Stadium were sealed, shops and buses stopped, and residents struggled to leave their neighbourhoods. Rockets targeted the venue in 1992, while unrest in 2010 and 2016 brought restrictions and prolonged shutdowns. Mobile services were also periodically suspended. The separatist groups’ ability to enforce Valley-wide shutdowns has weakened since 2019. At Bakshi Stadium in 2023, thousands attended without special passes, traffic moved through much of Srinagar, some shops operated and communications remained active. Times Now News carries a Kashmiri Pandit’s personal account of fear, displacement and hope linked to celebrations around Lal Chowk.

## Coverage

- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/from-empty-streets-to-public-crowds-how-august-15-changed-in-kashmir-4112305>
- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/opinion/india/opinion-i-want-gen-z-to-see-a-new-kashmir-independence-day-2026-lal-chowk-srinagar-article-155660446>

Tags: Bakshi Stadium, Burhan Wani, Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, Srinagar
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