Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Aug 2: The inhabitants of Phobrang, Lukung and Urgo villages located on the Indo China border area celebrated weeklong nomadic festival “Dhata festival” locally known as the “Dhata Tuschod” near the Indo-China border at a place called Dhata.
Executive Councilor for Works LAHDC Dorjay Motup inaugurated the festival in presence of Deputy Commissioner Prasanna Ramaswamy G.
The festival is the only annual occasion where people of the three villages along with their entire livestock makes a special get-together to enjoy thoroughly before they disperse in different directions to graze their livestock. Serving Yak butter tea and local beer “Chang” made from fermented barely the nomads enjoy each and every moment to entertain themselves with various activities like archery competition and horse racing to exhibit their skill and stunts.
The festival which had been celebrating since years aimed at showcasing its richness, displayed various products including Yak cheese, woolen clothes and carpets and world class pashmina shawls.
Ever since Ladakh becoming a favourate tourist destination, the nomads also urged the Hill Council to promote the festival at District level to attract more tourist and they also urged the Administration to open inner line permit to these areas.
Briefing about the festival, Konchok Stanzin, Councilor of Chushul constituency said the festival is a joint celebration of villagers of Phobrang, Lukung and Urgo. He said that previously all these villages were nomadic and used to stay in the nomadic tent and keep shifting from one place to another with their livestock so this festival was meant to be celebrated as gathering of all these three villages and after this festival they will disperse in different places for pasturing of their livestock and also one part of this festival is to pay offering to their village protector ‘Yulsa’ called ‘Tsukgan Nurboo’.
Dorjay Motup assured the people to fulfill their demands which include construction of a culvert at the stream, better road connectivity from Urgo to Dhata and to extend the existing community hall.
District Magistrate also said that Changthang region was his first priority and was always looking for an opportunity to visit this area. He also assured to give special attention towards the nomadic people and said that he had given first priority to Changthang region under Border Area Development Project (BADP) scheme to develop the region.
Later, the chief guest distributed the trophies and prizes to the winners of archery tournament.
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