In the land of lamas

The 15-day Ladakh festival, organised every year from September 1 in Leh, showcases region’s unique customs and cultural heritage that have survived the vagaries of modernism. Yangchan Dolma reports from Leh

THE fabled city of Ladakh is a land of celebrations. Here every moment of life is celebrated in a grand way. Every occasion, whether family or social, right from the birth of a child to marriage or the harvest season turn into joyous festivities with the entire village joining in. The birth of the first baby is a grand occasion and is celebrated in an equally grand manner.

The genesis
THE Ladakh Festival is a major event organised every year by the J&K Tourism Department, in collaboration with the local communities and the district administrations of Leh and Kargil. It is a unique project by the state government to promote Ladakh's traditions and customs, cultural heritage and various performing arts.

What my friends think of me
Mulk Raj Anand, whose death anniversary is on September 28, wrote this unpublished article on why he preferred strangers and casual acquaintances over friends
BEFORE I can say anything about what my friends think of me, I must ask myself if I have any friends. In the world where graces are fast disappearing, one is not too certain about the real feelings of the people around one. And yet, friendship is a fact. And I have the assurance that I have friends, though only some of them are real friends, while the bulk of them are intimate acquaintances giving of themselves with reservations.