The first ever two-day Balti literary and cultural festival ‘Spangang’ jointly organized by JKAACL Leh and Kargil got underway at Turtuk in the Nobra Valley here today.Executive Councilor for Minority Affairs, Animal and Sheep Husbandry and Cooperatives Mumtaz Hussain kick-started the literary and cultural extravaganza which features paper reading sessions on varied themes pertaining to Balti cultural, society and folk traditions, besides poetic recital sessions and colourful folk music and dance performances by the artists of Nobra valley.SDM Nobra Sonam Nurboo, SDM Kharoo Ghulam Muhammad, Councilor Turtuk Ghulam Mehdi, SHO Nobra Nissar Hussain, prominent citizens, writers, poets, artists, foreign and domestic tourists besides a large number of cultural and literary enthusiasts thronged the premises of Higher Secondary School Turtuk to witness the festival.Speaking on the occasion, Mumtaz Hussain while appreciating the efforts of JKAACL Leh and Kargil in organizing the festival at Nobra Valley expressed hope that the event will go a long way in the preservation and promotion of Balti culture and folk traditions.The EC said that the holding of this event will, on the one hand, give impetus to cultural tourism in the area besides providing an ideal platform to the Balti men of letters to introspect and initiate discussions and dialogues on the challenges and opportunities to the language.
Councilor Turtuk Ghulam Mehdi and Deputy Secretary Cultural Academy Kargil Nazir Hussain while speaking on the occasion underlined the importance of reestablishing rich cultural legacy of communal harmony, oneness and brotherhood in the region which forms the core of traditional Ladakhi values.Earlier,Deputy Secretary Cultural Academy Leh Tsewang Paaljor while highlighting the aims and objectives of the two-day cultural and literary festival spoke about the steps being taken by the Academy towards the promotion and preservation of Balti culture and language.Meanwhile, during the inaugural ceremony here today the artists of Turtuk Leh and Kargil area presented Balti dance ‘Phudungkar’, ‘Rhpaorchez (brave’s dance) and Balti ghazals respectively. Traditional polo matches among different village teams were also played in the local polo ground which was highly applauded and appreciated by the local crowd.During the two-day festival spread over different sessions, research-oriented papers shall be presented on Balti culture language, literature and divided families, poetic renderings, polo matches as well as colourful cultural programmes.Assistant Editor Lakdakhi Dr. Phupstan Nurboo presented the vote of thanks on the occasion.