J&K Governor flags off Ladakh festival, nearly a month after Art 370 move

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik inaugurated the Ladakh Festival on September 2, 2019. Celebrations were witnessed in the hilly region nearly a month after Parliament passed a bill to separate Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir and convert both into Union Territories. The legislation will come into effect on October 31, 2019. The decision to bifurcate the state was taken after the Central government announced the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status by diluting Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.