Ladakh book festival opens, LG says it bridges ancient and modern

Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inaugurated the nine-day Ladakh Book Festival in Leh on Friday. The event, organised by the National Book Trust, the Ladakh administration and the Indian Army, aims to bring books and diverse literary traditions to the region, with stalls from 75 publishers displaying titles in Hindi, English, Urdu, Ladakhi and other Indian languages.

Speaking at the opening, Saxena said the festival carries forward Ladakh's centuries-old tradition of intellectual exchange by connecting ancient knowledge with modern ideas. He noted that despite the region's geographical remoteness and harsh winters, the event serves as an intellectual bridge to the rest of India and the world. The festival encourages young people to discover the value of reading and lifelong learning, Hindustan Times reports.