Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, Sept 20: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, inaugurated the 10th Ladakh Zanskar Festival 2025 in Padum today, stressing that the region’s landscapes, Buddhist heritage, and scope for adventure activities like trekking and rafting give it immense potential to emerge as a major tourism hub.
He said the festival is being promoted as a platform to highlight Ladakh’s cultural heritage through traditional music, dance, arts, crafts, and sports such as polo and archery, offering visitors a distinct cultural experience.
Gupta pointed out that participation of more than 1,200 cultural troupes from Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Manipur reflects the country’s diversity and provides opportunities for cultural exchange. He further suggested fixing annual dates for the Ladakh Zanskar Festival and Suru Summer Festival to facilitate advance planning for tourists, reaffirming the Administration’s commitment to strengthen tourism as a driver of local livelihoods. Click here to watch video
Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, said tourism development in Zanskar is among the Hill Council’s priorities. Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Mohmad Haneefa Jan, called for a dedicated Tourism Policy for Kargil with proper funding, along with stronger promotion of events like the Zanskar Festival to draw visitors from outside the country.
Bollywood actor Amit Sadh, who has been named the Festival’s Brand Ambassador, said he would work to promote Ladakh’s cultural identity to wider audiences.
Highlights of the inaugural session included Chhams (mask dance) by monks from Sani Monastery, cultural presentations by the Karsha Jumma Cultural Association, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), local artists from Padum, traditional dances from Rajasthan, and a Dogri folk performance from J&K.
Prior to the event, the LG visited the historic Sani Monastery, where he interacted with monks and local residents.
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