Amid the harsh winter in Kargil, Ladakh artists took to the skies to represent India’s heritage

INN/Kargil, @Infodeaofficial

At six in the morning, Tahir Hussain Zubdavi, Joint Director of Youth Services and Sports (YSS) UT Ladakh, flagged off a group of young artists from Ladakh, who braved the bitterly cold Kargil. The team, which included 13 female artists, one male essayist, and two officials—Zakir Hussain PM Nodal Officer and Mohd Ibrahim Shoqi and Rinchen Angmo as Troop Incharge—left for New Delhi to present Ladakh’s rich cultural legacy at the renowned Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, a national event celebrating Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary from January 10 to January 12.

The artists’ enthusiasm and dedication to cultural endeavors in addition to their academic endeavors were commended by Tahir Hussain Zubdavi. The team had to traverse the treacherous Zojila Pass, endure below-freezing conditions, and make their first-ever trip to Kashmir in January, making the trip to Delhi especially noteworthy. The delegation was welcomed at Mena Marg Check Point along the route, where Ladakh police officers under the leadership of Ghulam Mehdi SI and his group offered the young ambassadors hospitality and hot quarters, which raised their spirits.

A forum for national integration, the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue brings together young people from all around India to celebrate cultural diversity, fortify solidarity, and foster harmony within communities. Representing Ladakh on this stage brings attention to the region’s distinctive customs and its significant contribution to India’s diverse cultural landscape.

According to Tahir Hussain, the team is bringing with them not just the cultural heritage of Ladakh but also a message of perseverance and patriotism as they travel to New Delhi, demonstrating that even the most severe winters cannot break the spirit of people committed to upholding and advancing India’s unity in diversity.