Kargil, April 19: The fifth day of the ongoing Apricot Blossom Festival 2025 was celebrated with enthusiasm at Gound Minjee, Kargil, despite challenging weather conditions.
The event featured a vibrant heritage walk, ethnic food stalls, local handicrafts, handloom displays and traditional artifacts, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region.
The celebration was graced by Executive Councilor Tourism, LAHDC, Kargil, Kacho Mohammad Feroz as the chief guest, and Councillor, Baroo Minjee Constituency, Advocate Khadim Hussain, as the guest of honour. Other notable attendees included members of the women’s Self Help Group (SHG) and the RANThAG Theatre Group Kargil.
The event began with a welcome speech by Councillor Advocate, Khadim Hussain, who extended his gratitude to Tourism Department for organizing the festival at Gound Minjee for the first time.
He emphasized the need to recognize and develop unexplored areas like Gound Minjee and proposed celebrating the festival on a larger scale in the coming years, highlighting the area’s unique and untapped tourism potential.
In his address, Executive Councillor Kacho Mohammed Feroz highlighted the importance of Apricot Blossom Festival as a symbol of the arrival of spring and a celebration of Ladakh’s culture, traditions, heritage, and peaceful environment. He encouraged foreign and domestic tourists to visit the region and experience its serene beauty.
The EC also urged local youth to engage actively in promoting tourism, preserving historical sites, and offering warm hospitality to tourists.
He emphasized the importance of youth involvement in heritage conservation and suggested that this could also help address youth unemployment by boosting local tourism.
As a token of appreciation, Rs 5,000 was awarded to each women’s Self Help Group that participated in the event. The Executive Councillor also proposed the establishment of tourism information groups at every event to assist and guide visitors.
The celebration concluded with heartfelt thanks from the organizers and a reaffirmation of the community’s commitment to promoting eco-tourism, heritage conservation, and cultural pride in the Ladakh region.
