Two-day Silk Route Festival concludes

STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: Two-day Silk Route Festival 2013 concluded at Sand Dune Leisure Park Summur, Nobra on Tuesday. The festival was organised by Samstan Otzer Tsogspa in collaboration with Himalayan Culture Heritage Foundation.
Chief Executive Councilor (CEC), LAHDC,  Rigzin Spalbar was the Chief Guest and EC Health, Dr. Sonam Wangchok, EC Agriculture, Sonam Dorje, EC Tourism, Gurmet Dorje, MLA Nubra, Tsetan Namgyal and Former Union Minister, P. Namgyal were the Guests of Honour on the occasion.
The main attraction of the festival was archery, camel riding and colourful cultural programme.
Gurmet Dorjey said that the main reason behind the growing tourist in Ladakh is its rich cultural heritages and urged upon the people to promote the rich cultural heritage. He assured that LAHDC would provide financial assistance for conservation and promotion of cultural values and is also taking necessary measure for protection of bacterian camel in Nubra through Animal Husbandry Department.
Speaking on the occasion, Spalbar congratulated the Samstan Otzer Tsogspa and Himalayan Culture Heritage Foundation to start the festival with a vision to promote the cultural heritage in the area and expressed hope that they will also work to strengthen the identity of Ladakh through its cultural preservation. CEC said that this festival should be promoted to attract more tourists to Nubra valley which in turn will result in the economic development of the region. He also suggested the Samstan Otzer Tsogspa to prepare a policy project for necessary financial assistance from Central as well as State Government to execute developmental works in the area as per the need of the people.
Tsetan Namgyal expressed thanks to CEC and ECs and other guests for participating in the festival and said that through this festival they intend to publicise the Sumoor sand dune as a tourist destination.  Councilor Tigar Rigzin Wangdus also spoke on the occasion.