Ladakh lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday inaugurated the nine-day Ladakh Book Festival, being organised by the National Book Trust, Ladakh administration and the Indian Army, in Leh.
The festival aims to bring books, literature, and diverse literary traditions from across the country and abroad, closer to the people of Ladakh. The festival features books in Hindi, English, Urdu, Ladakhi, and other Indian languages, with stalls showcasing 75 publishers and highlighting India’s rich linguistic and literary diversity.
Inaugurating the festival, the LG said that the Ladakh Book Festival 2026 will serve as an important platform to promote reading, literature, education and knowledge while connecting Ladakh’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage with contemporary India and the wider world.
The festival assumes special significance in Ladakh, where geographical remoteness and harsh winters often restrict access to the wider world. By bringing books, authors, publishers and diverse ideas to the region, the festival seeks to create an intellectual bridge between Ladakh and the rest of India and the world, while encouraging young people to discover the value of reading and lifelong learning.
Addressing the gathering, the LG noted that despite its geographical isolation, Ladakh has historically remained connected with the wider world through its rich traditions of Buddhist studies, manuscripts and intellectual exchange. The festival, he said, carries forward this centuries-old tradition by bringing ancient knowledge into dialogue with modern ideas.