The Apricot Blossom Festival was celebrated at Dha-Bema Lasthang on April 9, drawing a large gathering of dignitaries, tourists, and local residents. The event was graced by the State Election Commissioner of UT Ladakh, Sudhanshu Pandey (IAS, Retd.), along with Secretary to the Commission Shiv Kumar Gupta, Private Secretary R.M. Bhisht, Director Tourism Tsering Paldan (JKAS), SDM Khaltsi Mohammad Sharif, and Assistant Director Tourism Padma Angmo (JKAS).

Assistant Director Tourism Padma Angmo extended a warm welcome to the dignitaries and visitors, highlighting the importance of promoting local culture and tourism in the region.

The festival featured vibrant cultural dance performances by artists from Skurbuchan, Achinathang, and Dha villages, as well as students from the Government School in Hanu village.

A significant number of tourists attended the event, including visitors from the United States, Russia, and various parts of India.

Addressing the gathering, Sudhanshu Pandey appreciated the organizers for successfully conducting the festival and encouraged tourists to support local artists. He expressed his delight at attending the event at Dha-Bema Lasthang and praised the cultural performances.

He remarked that the festival reflects the beauty of India’s floral traditions, drawing comparisons with international cherry blossom festivals, and emphasized the need to showcase its cultural richness to a wider audience. He further stated that the festival deserves inclusion in the official calendar and assured his support for its promotion.

Highlighting the scenic charm of Dha-Bema Lasthang, he noted its potential to attract the film industry, including Bollywood, and commended the talent of local artists and students.