LEH: The second day of the Ladakh Literature Festival 2026 brought together young learners, traditional artisans, military veterans and cultural performers, reinforcing the festival’s central theme of connecting literature, heritage, military history and contemporary expression.
The day opened with activities designed to encourage children to explore creativity and Ladakh’s traditional knowledge systems. Students of Army Goodwill School, Karu participated in a hands-on Likir Pottery Workshop, where they were introduced to the traditional craft and the skills involved in pottery-making. The workshop provided the young participants an opportunity to engage directly with a living cultural tradition.
The students also undertook a guided tour of the “Know Your Army” Weapons & Equipment Display, which offered them an insight into the equipment, preparedness and technological capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces. The display added an experiential dimension to the festival’s focus on India’s military heritage and contemporary defence preparedness.
A major highlight of the day was the session “Story of Gilgit-Skardu-Ladakh 1947–48” by Col Ajay Raina (Retd). The session explored a crucial chapter of military history and provided perspectives on the events and strategic significance of the 1947–48 conflict in the region.
This was followed by an engaging interaction with Lt Gen Devendra Pratap Pandey (Retd), former GOC Chinar Corps, who shared accounts highlighting the valour, courage and sacrifices of the Indian Army. His reflections connected historical experiences with the enduring values of leadership, resilience, duty and service.
The proceedings also reflected the broader vision of the Ladakh Literature Festival, which seeks to use books, conversations, history, art and cultural traditions as platforms for engaging younger generations. The emphasis on military history complemented the festival’s overarching theme of “Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom,” while the workshops and cultural activities ensured that the programme remained accessible and engaging for children and youth.
The day concluded on a vibrant note with a musical performance by the Dashugs Band, celebrating Ladakh’s rich musical heritage and living traditions. The performance added a strong cultural dimension to the day’s proceedings and brought together the themes of heritage, memory and artistic expression.
The second day thus continued the festival’s effort to bring together the past and the present—traditional craftsmanship and modern defence preparedness, military history and literature, and the wisdom of veterans with the creativity of young minds.
The Ladakh Literature Festival 2026 is being held as part of the wider Ladakh Book Festival 2026, bringing authors, scholars, military veterans, students, artists and literature enthusiasts together in a celebration of books, history, heritage and ideas.
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