The Tourism and Culture department organized the Aryan Festival-2024 at Lchangra Gakone village in the Aryan Valley on September 21.

Executive Councilor of LAHDC Kargil, Er Punchok Tashi, attended the event as the chief guest, while nominated Councilor Regzin Gurmath served as the guest of honor.
Assistant Director of Tourism, Kargil, Rahmatullah Bhat, expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, guests, tourists, artists, and villagers of Aryan Valley for their participation. He emphasized the department’s commitment to promoting Aryan Valley as a tourist destination through cultural events.

In his address, Executive Councilor Punchok Tashi congratulated the people of Aryan Valley on their celebration and stressed the importance of preserving and promoting their unique culture. He encouraged both foreign and domestic tourists to act as ambassadors of the Aryan Festival, spreading the message of Aryan culture beyond Ladakh.

EC Tashi directed the Tourism Department to enhance publicity for the Aryan Festival in future years to attract more visitors. He commended the artists for their outstanding performances and reiterated the festival’s goal of safeguarding the rich cultural heritage of the Aryan Valley.

He noted that the UT Administration, LAHDC Kargil, and the Department of Tourism and Culture are committed to preserving the rich culture of Aryan Valley while improving cultural tourism by showcasing its diverse ethnic features, folk traditions, local cuisine, rituals, and heritage sites.

Nominated Councillor Regzin Gurmath emphasized the importance of unity and cultural preservation during this significant event, which brought the community together. He expressed his gratitude to the Tourism and Culture Department for organizing the event at such a grand level and urged the people of Aryan to preserve their unique cultural identity.

The festival featured solo songs, traditional music, and dance performances by artists from the Balti and Purgi tribes, as well as from villages including Darchik, Garkone, Sanachay, Dha-Bima, Hanu, and surrounding areas.

The event was attended by prominent citizens, officials from civil and police administrations, along with a large number of domestic and foreign tourists, researchers, and artists.