The UT-level Kala Utsav 2022 competition, organised by Samagra Shikha, School Education Department, UT Ladakh was held at PARAS Hall, Boys Higher Secondary school Leh on November 29.

A total of 32 students, including 16 from each district of UT Ladakh, participated in the UT-level Kala Utsav 2022. The students performed in different categories of performing and visual arts, including Dance (folk), Vocal Music (traditional/folk), Instrumental Music (melodic), Instrumental Music (percussive), Solo Acting, Visual art (2D), Visual art (3D) and Indigenous toys and games.

Deputy Chairman, LAHDC Leh, Tsering Angchuk, was the chief guest of the occasion. The jury consisted of experts from the field of performing and visual arts from both districts.

Speaking on the occasion, Dy Chairman Tsering Angchuk lauded the enthusiastic participation from both districts. He added that Kala Utsav has allowed the incorporation of art and culture in the school curriculum and stressed that every school should mandatorily incorporate such events in their school calendar to harness the potential from a young age.

He said that the Council would extend support to upscale the celebration of Kala Utsav in the district.

Congratulating the participants, he expressed hope that the winning streak of UT Ladakh at the National Kala Utsav would continue this year as well.

Chief Education Officer, Leh, SD Namgail added that such events promote the artistic skills of the students developing an inclusive and holistic education. Adding that it becomes a means to preserve and promote our rich art, culture and tradition and give exposure to interested students, 
he said that all schools should conduct similar events.

The 16 finalists of the UT-level Kala Utsav 2022 include Stanzin Samchok, DPS Leh (folk dance); Tsering Yangdol, GHHS Shargole, Kargil (folk dance); Mushtaba Ali, GHHS Bhimbat Drass, Kargil (folk song); Yasmeen Fatima, Suru Valley Public School, Kargil (folk song); Tsering Nurboo, Lamdon Model Sr Sec School, Leh (instrumental music-melodic); Tsering Lamo, GHS Chumathang, Leh (instrumental music-melodic); Jigmet Jimmy, GHS Garkhone, Kargil (instrumental music-percussive); Padma Choskit, GHS Garkhone, Kargil (instrumental music-percussive); Stanzin Namgyal, GHSS Timisgam, Leh (solo acting); Ummul Banin, GHSS Shargole, Kargil (solo acting); Jigmet Chosdon, DPS Leh (visual art-2D); Mustafa Ali, GHSS Trespone, Kargil (visual art-2D); Zarifa Banoo, GHSS Sankoo, Kargil (visual art-3D); Sonam Stanzin, GHSS Saspol, Leh (visual art-3D); Sohrat Fatima, GHS Kaksar, Kargil (indigenous toys and games) and Shurjaat Ali, AGS, Harka Bahadur, Kargil (indigenous toys and games).
These 16 selected finalists would represent UT Ladakh in the National Kala Utsav-2022 scheduled in RIE, Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 3rd to 7th January 2023.

Kala Utsav is an initiative of the Ministry of Education under the Samagra Shiksha scheme to promote arts in education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talents of school students.