Ladakh Book Festival: Day-5 draws over 1,800 Students, celebrates creativity and young voices

LEH: The fifth day of the ongoing Ladakh Book Festival 2026 at NDS Ground, Leh, turned into a vibrant celebration of creativity, storytelling and youthful expression, with more than 1,800 children from over 20 schools taking part in activities at the festival’s Children’s Corner.

The day brought together theatre, art, book-making and debate, offering young participants an engaging platform to explore their imagination while developing confidence, teamwork and critical-thinking skills.

The proceedings began with the “Clown Carnival”, conducted by Muskan and Farman. The fun-filled theatre workshop introduced children to expressions, body movements and basic theatrical techniques. Participants then used balloons and newspapers to create colourful clown characters, before bringing them to life through playful performances and acts. The activity transformed the Children’s Corner into a lively space of laughter, imagination and spontaneous creativity.

The second session, “Let’s Make a Book,” was led by children’s author, illustrator and animator Tsering Lhanzes. Working in groups of eight, the young participants were encouraged to become authors and designers themselves. Using craft materials, they created their own books, designing imaginative covers and filling the pages with their stories, ideas and illustrations.

The hands-on exercise gave children an opportunity to experience the creative process behind a book—from developing an idea and shaping a story to designing its physical form—while also highlighting the importance of collaboration and creative expression.

The day concluded with “Voice of Youth – Inter-School Debate Competition,” which provided a platform for students to engage with a contemporary issue: the impact of technology on reading habits. Two teams presented arguments for and against the proposition, with participants demonstrating confidence, reasoning and an ability to articulate contrasting viewpoints.

The debate not only encouraged students to think critically about the changing relationship between technology and reading, but also underscored the importance of creating spaces where young people can express their opinions and engage constructively with issues shaping their lives.

With its combination of theatre, crafts, storytelling and intellectual engagement, Day 5 reflected the broader spirit of the Ladakh Book Festival 2026, which seeks to nurture a culture of reading while making literature and creative learning accessible and engaging for children.

The overwhelming participation of schoolchildren underscored the growing interest among Ladakh’s younger generation in books, storytelling and creative activities. The Children’s Corner, in particular, emerged as a space where reading went beyond the printed page, allowing children to create, perform, imagine, collaborate and speak with confidence. The Ladakh Book Festival is being held from August 14 to 22, bringing together literary activities and cultural engagement at NDS Ground, Leh. Day 5 added another vibrant chapter to the festival, placing children and their ideas firmly at the heart of Ladakh’s celebration of books and literature.