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Ladakh festival leaves everyone mesmerized

    Leh: Rhythmic native tunes resonated off the barren mountain slopes and filled the air in Leh as the curtains came down on the fortnight-long annual Ladakh festival which showcased the Ladakhi folk culture before thousands of people who witnessed this great extravaganza with bespectacled eyes. The occasion saw hundreds of resplendently attired artists from various regions of Ladakh--Changpa, Nubrapa, Balti and Barokpa-- display their diverse and distinct culture at the historic Polo ground. The festival, which was earlier held in the peak summer months of June and July was shifted in order to attract the tourists to the lean season. Minister of Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir, Jugal Kishore, feels that the festival would help revive the tourism potential of the region. " The festival seems to have attracted more tourists to this place The tourism industry has witnessed a significant growth and we are trying to reach the zenith."

   The lifestyle and the culture of Ladakh has a distinctive flavour. The festival offered tourists a unique opportunity to witness the culture of these people. Ladakhi men and women bedecked with gold and silver ornaments and elaborate headgears, decorated with turquoise, entertained the spectators with folk songs and dances that are typical to the region. The festival, full of fun and gaiety, concluded with many of the tourists and officials shaking a leg along with the artists."The last part, the group dancing, with everybody dancing together, for me this was the best part," said Anon, a foreign tourist. Leh is the ancient royal capital and currently the headquarters of Ladakh region.Situated at a height of 11,500 feet, Leh, though nestled in Kashmir, has remained untouched by any militant disturbance. It offers a unique ambience for the festival against stark mountains. Ladakhis' mesmerizing dances, tempered by religion, are known for their simplicity and direct expressios. Each dance begins with a homage to the Gods with a deliberately slow movement of feet. The rhythm slowly picks up in the second stage and reaches a feverish pitch towards the end. Cultural festivals contribute 50 per cent to the promotion of tourism in this region. More than 35,000 tourists have visited Ladakh so far during the current tourist season and the influx of foreign as well as domestic tourists has increased by 50 per cent in the last two years alone.
-Sept 19, 2005