Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL Jan 21: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad said that food festivals enlighten communities about the importance of reviving their traditional food practices and production which proves instrumental in reintegrating value back into traditional food systems and food culture.
The CEC stated this while addressing people during the Mamani traditional food festival at Higher Secondary School Shargole here today.
The annual festival was organized by the Himalayan Heritage and Cultural Foundation (HHCF) in collaboration with Youth Educational and Sports Welfare Society, Wakha Kargil.
Executive Councilor for Health Muhammad Ali Chandan, SSP Kargil Dr Vinod Kumar, Director HHCF Dr Sonam Wangchuk, prominent Ladakhi folk singer artist Dorjay Stakmo, representatives of royal families of the area Amma Shema and Kacho Muhammad, senior citizens and local people in large numbers were present in the festival.
While underlining the importance of fairs and festivals in the promotion and preservation of cultural traditions, the CEC said that they play a significant role to connect people with their heritage and ancestral legacy and should be observed with enthusiasm and fervor.
Feroz Khan said that the LAHDC Kargil is committed to give impetus to various activities for promotion and preservation of culture and heritage in the district. He assured that the LAHDC would create a separate head to allocate funds to organize various activities aimed to protect the traditions of the region.
Meanwhile, despite snowfall and bone chilling cold people in large numbers enthusiastically participated in the festival who had put up stalls with traditional food items prepared with local ingredients.
During Mamani festival, people of Kargil prepare traditional dishes like Thukpa, Popot (Grain Soup), Hrtsrap Khur (Yeast Bread), Markhur, Azoq (Skinn & Kabchey) (Puri), Poli (Pane Cakes of Buck Wheat), Curd, Suggoo (Kash or Pachae) etc. With all the dishes they gather at a specific place called Changrah-meeting place.
Later the CEC presented awards and certificates to the winners for best presentation and preparation of variety of food items during the Mamani food festival.
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