Kargil: Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Language (LAACL), Kargil, successfully hosted a day-long Cultural and Literary Festival cum Music and Painting Competition at Government Modern High School, Karsha, Sub Division Zanskar.
The event featured junior, senior, and age group categories, attracting participants from various schools across Zanskar Sub Division.
The event was graced by Romil Singh Donk, IAS, SDM Zanskar, who served as the chief guest. Councillor Karsha, Stanzin Jigmet, Khadim Hussain, Superintendent Antiquities, UT Ladakh, Mohd Issaq, Principal of Government Model Degree College, Zanskar, and Tsetan Konchok, Zonal Education Officer, Zanskar, attended as guests of honour.
Other dignitaries included Jigmet Gyalso, SHO Zanskar, Stanzin Rangdol, President of the Buddhist Youth Association, Zanskar, and Tashi Tundup of Village Education Committee Karsha, Nambardars Karsha. The event also saw participation from principals, headmasters, senior citizens, and a jam-packed audience.
In his address, Romil Singh Donk commended the Ladakh Cultural Academy for organizing the festival, which he inaugurated. He highlighted the importance of such events in nurturing the hidden talents of children and promoting cultural consciousness.
He emphasized the significance of upholding folk literature and ancestral values and urged the academy to continue organizing similar events in the future.
The festival featured a vibrant painting competition, showcasing artworks depicting Zanskar Ladakh natural beauty, cultural heritage, and daily life. The folk music competition included melodious performances that expressed the participants’ pride in their Zanskar heritage. The SDM expressed hope that these activities would inspire children to embrace and celebrate their culture.
Councillor Karsha, Stanzin Jigmet, lauded the academy’s efforts in fostering cultural awareness and preserving the rich traditions of the region. He called for continued emphasis on talent hunts and cultural workshops for the youth.
Zonal Education Officer, Tsetan Konchok, congratulated the academy for providing a platform that encourages artistic expression and promotes Ladakhi culture. He stressed the importance of co-curricular activities for the overall development of students.
Renowned artists and musicians from Zanskar Kargil judged the competitions and praised the children’s creativity and skills. Winners were awarded prizes and certificates, while all participants received participation certificates.
Earlier in his welcome speech, Deputy Secretary LAACL, Nazir Hussain, reiterated the academy’s commitment to promoting Ladakhi art, culture, and language. He highlighted that such events aim to introduce young minds to creative arts and ensure the continuity of cultural traditions.
Tashi Tundup of the Village Committee, Government High School Karsha, expressed gratitude to the academy for choosing their school for the event. He emphasized the need for children to excel in extracurricular activities alongside their academic pursuits.
The festival featured poetic renderings, research-oriented papers, short stories, and folk music performances by various artists, writers, and poets from the region.
This cultural and literary extravaganza highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Zanskar and showcased the talent and enthusiasm of its young participants, making it a memorable and successful event.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Village Committee member Tashi Tundup, and the proceedings were conducted by Head Master Karsha, Stanzin Takpa.
