With the aim of reviving lost art forms and instruments of Ladakh a 7-day workshop on folk and tribal musical instruments Surna (Shehnai) & Daman was organised by J&K Cultural Academy Kargil at Academy Hall, Baroo on 19th December.

It was held under the guidance of musicians Ali Ghulam a state awardee, Skarma Dorjey and Tsering Angdus.

Aga Sayed Abass-Executive Councillor was the chief guest at the inaugural function while Urgan Lundup, Chief Executive Officer, Kargil Development Authority was the guest of honour. A number of traditional musicians from Kargil attended the first day of the workshop.

Aga Sayed Abass appreciated J&K Cultural Academy Kargil for organizing this type of workshop for traditional musicians of Ladakh. He said that these kinds of workshops are the need of the hour for the promotion and development of Ladakhi music and he further assured to extend utmost support from Hill Council, Kargil in future in this regard.

Urgain Lundup, said that Ladakh itself got a rich cultural heritage and it is the responsibility of each Ladakhi to play their role in preserving and promoting our ancestral cultural legacy and pass on to the future generation.

Nazir Hussain, Deputy Secretary/Special Officer for J&K Culture Academy said that the main purpose of the workshop is to promote and preserve traditional musical instruments Surna (Shehnai) and Daman of Ladakh. He also highlighted the importance and relevance of the workshop. He hoped that the participants will definitely get benefit of this workshop as it was highly job oriented workshop under experience expert guidance. He further said that the J&K Cultural Academy Kargil will organise more such workshops in order to develop the traditional musicians of Ladakh.

Among those who were present on the occasion were Shabir Hussain, Head Quarter Assistant to DC Kargil, Aga Sayed Towha, Assistant Director Tourism, Kargil, Gulzar Hussai Munshi, Executive Engineer REW Kargil, Ajaz Munshi, Curator Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum,  Reyaz Mushi, President KASCO, Scholar  Mohammad Sadiq Hardassi, Sipte-Hassan-Kaleem, and a large number of trainees were present  on the inaugural function.