Zanskar, March 26, 2026: The 5th edition of the Zanskar Winter Sports and Tourism Festival 2026 was inaugurated today by the Deputy Commissioner/CEO, LAHDC Kargil, Mr. Rakesh Kumar, IAS. Councillor of Karsha Constituency, Mr. Stanzin Jigmath, attended the event as the Guest of Honour.
The dignitaries were received by local artists in a traditional style, accompanied by music (Daman and Surna). They were escorted in a procession from the Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) to the venue, riding yaks and horses. Following the inauguration, the Deputy Commissioner flagged off a group of students for a walkathon from the Sports Stadium, covering a distance of 4 km.
The main function commenced with a welcome speech by the Tehsildar Zanskar, Mr. Mohd Hassan, who welcomed the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, and other attendees, thanking them for attending the festival.
The Guest of Honour, Councillor Karsha, expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner for attending the festival and travelling from Kargil to Zanskar under harsh conditions. He also emphasized the need to fix the festival dates well in advance to attract more tourists.
The Chief Guest congratulated the Zanskar administration, led by the SDM, for successfully organizing the festival on such a large scale despite the severe cold conditions. He also interacted with local artists and players of archery and volleyball, and inspected stalls set up by various government departments and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), showcasing local products. Local artists performed traditional songs and dances on the first day of the festival.
Later, the Deputy Commissioner visited the camp of 13 BRTF Zanskar and interacted with the officials. He also inspected a government building proposed for a Tourist Information Centre-cum-Museum, which will provide information about tourist sites, including the locations and history of Gonpas, and other attractions in the Zanskar Sub-Division.
