Kargil Winter Folk Festival was held at Tourist Dak Bungalow Mulbekh on 21 December under the aegis of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Kargil. The occasion was held in presence of Aga Syed Toha, Assistant Director Tourism Kargil who was the Chief guest and Muhammad Hassan, Naib Tehsildar Shargole who was the guest of honor .

This  day long cultural event was attended by ten cultural troupes numbering 160 artists from different areas of Kargil District like Hardass, Wakha, Mulbekh, Kukshow, Bodh Kharboo, Darchiks, Garkone and Drass who showcased the folk music, folk lore and folk dance forms.
 
The festival was a part of the series of initiatives being taken by Cultural Academy Kargil to preserve and sustain the valuable pieces of folk literature of Kargil region, thus saving them from going into oblivion. It was also a platform for the Purgi, Balti, Dardi and Shina folk artists who presented their flamboyant folk songs and folklore in their traditional music and dance forms.

Aga Syed Toha while congratulating the Academy for having organized such a vibrant multiethnic cultural event said that there is an urgent need to take steps in sustaining and preserving the glorious folk literature of Kargil based on social and moral ethos, communal harmony, peaceful coexistence, decency and the like. Aga added that such initiatives of cultural awakening and cultural promotion by the Academy are the need of the day as the rich treasure of folk traditions is gradually fading away. He reposed with hope that the Academy will continue its endeavors on this front in the future too.

Muhammad Hassan while speaking on the occasion emphasized the need to uphold and cherish the age old virtues of morality, humanism, humility, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence which are the identity of the rich multiethnic traditions of Kargil region. He also impressed upon the need that every individual should contribute his bit to maintain peace and communal harmony which are undoubtedly the fundamentals for progress and development.
 
Earlier in his welcome speech Muhammad Ali Tak, Cultural Officer, Kargil while underlining the purpose of the one day festival said that the prime objective was to enable the folk artists especially the younger ones to relate to their roots, and to let them know the importance of indigenous dialects and traditions. He further added that the event was held so as to ensure their preservation especially in the wake of the waves of materialism and westernization where the traditional values have taken aback seat due to the overpowering influence of the modern culture.

Muhammad Tak further added that indigenous culture is the element that determines the identity of a particular race. He said that the folklore is one of the integral components of any community and the need of the hour is to pay immediate attention towards its promotion and preservation. He emphasized the need to uphold and advocate the old traditional ethical values of which Kargil is known for so as to pass them to the next generation in their true essence. He added that a number of languages across the globe are at the verge of extinction today as no serious steps have been taken to ensure their preservation.
Among others guests present on the occasion were Stanzin Lotus, Programme Executive AIR, Kargil; Sher Khan, Executive Engineer Mechanical Division , Kargil as well as district and block level officers. The event also drew massive crowds of cultural enthusiasts that comprised of men, women and children from Wakha, Mulbekh and the adjoining villages .The occasion ended with a vote of thanks by Nazir Hussain SOCA(G-1)