LAAC&L, Drass administration organise multilingual Mushaira at Drass Festival

DRASS: More than 20 poets from Drass, Kargil, Leh and Sham districts came together at the ongoing Drass Festival 2026 for a multilingual mushaira aimed at strengthening literary exchange and sustaining Ladakh’s diverse poetic traditions.

The literary gathering was organised by the Ladakh Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (LAAC&L) Kargil, in collaboration with the District Administration Drass and Shina Writers’ Association Ladakh, at the Conference Hall of the Tourist Dak Bungalow in Drass.

Poets presented their compositions in Urdu and regional languages, bringing together established writers, young poets and literary enthusiasts from different parts of Ladakh.

Deputy Commissioner Drass Kacho Imteeaz, JKAS, attended the programme as chief guest, while noted poet and State Awardee Ghulam Ahmad Khan Jawan presided over the poetic sitting.

The presidium also included Councillor Lower Drass Abdul Wahid, senior scholar and poet Nawang Tsering Shakspo, and poets Barkat Ali Nizami and Muhammad Ali Ashoor.

Speaking on the occasion, Ghulam Ahmad Khan Jawan and Abdul Wahid appreciated the District Administration Drass and LAAC&L Kargil for bringing poets and scholars from across Ladakh together through the literary programme.

A book exhibition by the Shina Writers’ Association Ladakh was also organised alongside the mushaira. It featured books on poetry, prose, primers and other aspects of the Shina-Dardi language, drawing appreciation from participants and local residents.

Earlier, welcoming the dignitaries, poets and audience, Special Officer for Cultural Activities, Kargil, Muhammad Ali Tak, outlined the purpose of the literary gathering. He said the initiative was intended to promote interaction and exchange between young and senior poets and strengthen Ladakh’s literary traditions, particularly poetry.

The event was attended by poets, writers, civil administration officials, school and college students and literary enthusiasts.

During the programme, Ghulam Ahmad Khan Jawan was felicitated by the District Administration Drass for his lifetime contribution and dedication to the promotion and development of the Shina-Dardi language.

Noted poet and writer Muhammad Shafi Sagar conducted the proceedings, while writer Muhammad Shabir Misbahi delivered the vote of thanks. Among the poets who presented their compositions were Ghulam Ahmad Khan Jawan, Nawang Tsering Shakspo, Barkat Ali Nizami, Muhammad Ali Ashoor, Raza Amjad Badgami, Asgar Ali Aasi, Khayal Ladakhi, Bashir Ahmad Wafa, Muhammad Shafi Sagar, Ghulam Qadir Zaki, Muhammad Yasin Ansari, Muhammad Ashraf Sagar, Muhammad Ali Khumar, Muhammad Hussain Fayaz, Tsewang Rigzin, Farooq Ahmad Noorie, Fida Ali Karkiti, Ahsan Ali Bismil, Atiqa Parveen, Tundup Palgais, Zakir Hussain, Fida Ali and Irfan Younus.