Leh, August 13 (Scoop News)-The second edition of the Ladakh Book Festival 2026 will be held from 14 to 22 August 2026 at the NDS Memorial Sports Complex, Leh. The festival aims to promote a culture of reading in Ladakh while connecting children, youth, readers, writers and literature enthusiasts with books, literary activities, creative programmes and cultural performances. The festival will be inaugurated on 14 August at 12:30 PM by Shri Vinay Kumar Saxena, Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The inauguration ceremony will be attended by Shri Ashish Kundra, IAS, Chief Secretary, UT Ladakh; Lieutenant General Madanraj Pandey, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC 14 Corps; and Major General Sachin Mehta, VSM, GOC, 3 Infantry Division as distinguished guests. Also present will be Shri Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce; Ms. Shashanka Ala, IAS, Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Ms. Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Secretary, School Education, UT Ladakh; Shri Romil Singh Donk, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, UT Ladakh along with the Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India and Prof. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, National Book Trust, India.
Addressing a press conference, Shri Yuvraj Malik said that the second edition of the Ladakh Book Festival is a special event for book lovers, students, youth, parents and those with an interest in literature and culture, adding that entry to the festival is completely free and invited people to participate in large numbers. He said that the highlight of the festival is the Book Fair, which will feature more than 75 book stalls offering readers a wide range of titles across subjects and genres.
Shri Yuvraj Malik also announced that the theme of this year's Ladakh Book Festival is 'Valour and Wisdom — Shaurya evam Pragya'. He said that Ladakh's history has been enriched by tales of courage, bravery and valour, and that through this theme, an effort has been made to bring forward Ladakh's traditions of heroism and wisdom through books and literary sessions.
He added that the Ladakh Literature Festival will be held from 18 to 22 August as part of the broader festival, featuring a range of literary and intellectual programmes. In addition, creative workshops, storytelling sessions, competitions and other activities will be organised daily for schoolchildren. Cultural performances showcasing Ladakh's rich cultural heritage alongside books and literature will also be held.
A 'Know Your Army' exhibition will be organised on 18 and 19 August, aimed at engaging youth and providing them with information about the Indian Army and its contributions. He said that in this way, the Ladakh Book Festival will go beyond books and literature to become a wide-ranging platform of knowledge, culture, creativity and awareness for children, youth and the general public.
Speaking at the press conference, Ms. Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Secretary, School Education, UT Ladakh, said that the Ladakh Book Festival should be seen as an important initiative to promote the habit of reading and a love for books among children in Ladakh. She appealed to parents and teachers to bring children to the festival and encourage them to actively participate in its various activities.
She said that this "Festival of Books" is an important opportunity to connect children with reading, learning, creative expression and new experiences. She expressed confidence that the active participation of parents, teachers and children would enable the Ladakh Book Festival to play a significant role in strengthening the culture of reading and contributing to the holistic development of children in the region.
The Ladakh Book Festival 2026 will feature a range of literary, educational, creative and cultural activities daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, alongside the Book Fair. Entry to the festival is free. The Ladakh Book Festival warmly invites readers, students, parents, teachers, youth and lovers of literature and culture to participate in this nine-day celebration.
|