Leh, September 9: Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Leh, Adv. Tashi Gyalson, chaired a meeting at the Council Secretariat, Leh, to review and finalise preparations for the forthcoming Ladakh Festival 2025. The meeting was held in the Conference Hall of the Secretariat in the presence of Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Tsering Angchuk, and Hon’ble Executive Councillors, Tashi Namgyal Yakzee and Ghulam Mehdi.
Discussions centred on overall arrangements, allocation of responsibilities, and inter-departmental coordination to ensure the successful conduct of the festival scheduled from September 21 to 24.
At the outset, Assistant Director Tourism, Padma Angmo, gave a detailed briefing by way of a presentation, highlighting the schedule of events and the arrangements proposed by the Tourism Department in coordination with other stakeholders. She elaborated on the inaugural day’s programme, including the Archival Photo Exhibition at Leh Palace, food and handicraft stalls, cultural walk, Ladakhi film screenings, traditional dances, and the grand cultural show at the main market, along with live music concerts, astro-tourism experiences, and other attractions lined up across different venues.
During the meeting, the Hon’ble Chairman/CEC, along with the Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Executive Councillors, and officials, held a detailed discussion on every aspect of the upcoming festival. The day-wise programme was reviewed, covering archival exhibitions, book stalls, live skill demonstrations, traditional archery, horse polo, school performances, and live music concerts.
Special attention was given to venue management at Leh Palace, Eco Park, Main Market, and Polo Ground, with directions for proper seating, decorations, lighting, and sound arrangements. The deliberations also focused on ensuring active participation of local entrepreneurs, women’s groups, and self-help groups, with stalls by Looms of Ladakh, local brands, and associations to be prominently showcased.
The members further decided to encourage participants and locals to wear traditional dresses, especially on the inaugural and concluding days of the festival. It was also suggested that tourists be offered special incentives such as 10% discounts on transportation, bike rentals, select hotels, and a high tea during the festival period.
Media coverage and publicity were emphasized, with directions to the Information and Public Relations Department, Tourism Department, and press fraternity for wide promotion across platforms. The officials also reviewed routes for the cultural procession and walk to ensure smooth participation and proper traffic management. Additionally, arrangements for welcoming tourists at the airport and hotels were taken up, with instructions for tourism associations and hoteliers to begin outreach and extend traditional Ladakhi hospitality at least one week prior to the event.
Hon’ble CEC stressed that the Ladakh Festival represents the cultural identity of the region and directed all stakeholders to contribute with full dedication and wholehearted effort, ensuring that the festival is celebrated in a grand and memorable manner for the people of Ladakh as well as visiting tourists.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Development Commissioner Leh, District Superintending Engineer PWD Circle Leh, Superintending Engineer PDD Leh, Chief Planning Officer Leh, General Manager Industries Leh, Assistant Commissioner Development Leh, Internal Audit Officer Leh, Chief Medical Officer Leh, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Leh, Chief Horticulture Officer Leh, Engineer Incharge Indian Institute of Astrophysics, District Sheep Husbandry Officer Leh, Deputy Secretary SOCA Grade-I Cultural Academy Leh, District Social Welfare Officer Leh, Assistant Commissioner Labour Leh, Assistant Director Information Leh, Assistant Director Handloom, Assistant Director Handicraft Leh, Block Development Officer Leh, Superintending Archives Leh, Superintending Archaeologist ASI Leh, Accounts Officer to Deputy Commissioner Leh, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Leh, Executive Engineer Construction Division Leh, Executive Engineer R&B Leh, Executive Engineer PDD Leh, and Executive Engineer PHE Leh. Executive Engineer, Mechanical Division; the Executive Engineer, Leh Development Authority. Also present were the President of ALTOA, Leh; President of the Hotel & Guest House Association,Representatives from the Gonpa Association, Leh, and the Buddhist Association, Leh, also participated in the meeting
