LEH: The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on Tuesday attended the historic Matho Nagrang Festival at Matho Monastery. He was warmly received by former Member of Parliament Jamyang Tsering Namgyal and the venerable monks of the monastery.
In his address, the Lt Governor described the Matho Nagrang Festival as one of Ladakh’s most significant cultural and spiritual events. He noted that the 500-year-old tradition, rooted in the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, stands as a powerful symbol of Ladakh’s rich civilisational heritage and attracts scholars, researchers and tourists from across the world.
Highlighting the unique Nagrang tradition, he spoke about the two monk oracles who undergo a year of intense spiritual practice and solitary meditation before performing sacred masked dances and delivering prophecies during the festival. He termed the tradition unparalleled in the world and a matter of immense pride for Ladakh.
Reaffirming the Administration’s commitment to preserving Ladakh’s cultural legacy, Gupta said monasteries, folk arts, indigenous languages and traditional festivals form the living soul of the region. He informed that efforts are underway for documentation of intangible cultural heritage, support to local artists and integration of festivals into sustainable tourism initiatives.
Making a special appeal to the youth, the Lt Governor urged them to remain rooted in their traditions while embracing modernity and to act as torchbearers of Ladakh’s cultural identity.
He expressed gratitude to the head lamas and management of Matho Monastery for preserving the sacred tradition with dedication and sought blessings from the oracles for peace, prosperity and well-being of Ladakh and the nation.
Among those present were DGP Ladakh Mukesh Singh, Administrative Secretaries Bhupesh Chaudhary and Shashanka Ala, Deputy Commissioner Leh Romil Singh Donk, SSP Leh Shree Raam, and representatives from various religious and political organisations.
