KARGIL FEBRUARY 16, 2021: Executive Councillor for Agriculture Muhammad Ali Chandan inaugurated 3 day Ladakh Winter Carnival, 2021 at the historic Chiktan Shagaran here today.

The 3 day winter carnival has been organized under the aegis of the District Administration Kargil with support from the District Youth Services and Sports Department Kargil, Ladakh Tourism Department Kargil, Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages Kargil, Shakar Chiktan Tourism Development Committee, Ladakh Olympic Association, Archery Association of Ladakh, Kargil Ice and Snow Sports Club, Cultural and Educational
Welfare Association Chiktan and Snow Storm Chiktan.

Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shakar Chiktan Kacho Asgar Ali Khan, Councillor Chiktan Mohsin Ali, BDC Chairperson Shakar Chiktan Sayeda Banoo, President BJP Unit Kargil Haji Abdul Hussain, AD Tourism Again Syed Taha, District Youth Services and Sports Officer Kargil Muhammad Hussain Rehnuma, District Cultural Officer Kargil Muhammad Ali Tak, Sarpanchs, Panchs, Namberdars, prominent citizens besides other district and sub divisional officers, cultural enthusiasts and local people in good number were present on the occasion.

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EC Chandan congratulated the people of Shakar Chiktan for the conduct of the 1st ever of such cultural and sports winter carnival in the area. He said that the event will go a long way in giving boost to cultural and heritage tourism in the area which is rich in cultural legacy and ancestral folklore.

Making mention of the steps being taken by the Government towards the promotion of tourism in Shakar Chiktan, the EC said that a seperate proposal for restoration of the historical Chiktan Razi Khar is in the pipeline and the UT Administration and the LAHDC, Kargil are fully committed to undertake serious and sincere steps on this front.

Responding to the demands of the Shakar Chiktan Tourism Development Committee, EC Chandan assured that signages with necessary historical descriptions will be arranged at all tourism potential and historically eminent sites in the area.

EC Chandan also urged the public representatives and PRI members to continuously pursue their demands related to tourism development in the area with the higher authorities, so as to pave way for taking up of required measures in this regard. He also suggested them to frame proper lists of potential tourism and heritage and pilgrimage sites which could be forwarded to the concerned departments for their development.

The EC expressed gratitude to the District Administration Kargil and all concerned departments, and the local associations for having made strenous efforts for organizing the winter carnival in a short span of time.

Councillor Chiktan Mohsin Ali in his address while expressing thankfulness to the organizers for successful conduct of the event underlined the need to make coordinated efforts to make the winter carnival an annual event besides to raise it’s level as a national level event in the years to come.

Earlier, the BDC Chairperson Sayeda Banoo in her speech projected various demands including the inclusion of Ladakh Winter Carnival in the annual activities calender of the Tourism Department Ladakh, free inner line permit for tourists visiting the area, restoration of Chiktan Palace, erection of signages, introduction of trekking routes, homestay facilities, restoration of Api Strinjangmo Cave, Hinaskot Palace, Bodh Kharboo Palace, Stakchay Palace and hot springs, creation of Tourism Development Authority in the sub division, renovation of historic Chiktan Shagaran and other related demands.

SDM Shakar Chiktan Kacho Asgar Ali Khan, AD Tourism Aga Syed Taha and District Cultural Officer Muhammad Ali Tak also spoke on the occasion.

Pertinently, more than 25 archery teams and 150 folk artists of the Balti, Purgi, Shina Dardi and Aryan Dardi folk artists are participating in the 3 day carnival which has been held with the objective to give impetus to tourism in Shakar Chiktan area besides to preserve and promote the rich local culture and heritage.

Meanwhile, on the maiden day of the festival today, solo and group based folk artists from Shakar Chiktan, Kukshow, Fokar, Khachay, Hinaskot, Drass, Hardass and other parts of the district presented colorful traditional music and dance performances on the occasion while several traditional and modern archery matches were also played on the occasion.