Kulgam, Nov 11 (KNO): Calling for greater efforts to preserve Jammu and Kashmir’s literary and cultural heritage, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday proposed the creation of a ‘Veshow Archive’ to document oral traditions, folk tales and folk poetry, while unveiling a five-point agenda for the future growth of the ‘Veshow Festival.’
Inaugurating the ‘Veshow Festival’ here in South Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the event has emerged as a symbol of the region’s intellectual, literary and cultural consciousness since its launch in 2023.
“We must resolve to make Jammu Kashmir the cultural centre of the country,” LG Sinha said while addressing writers, poets, scholars, artists and literary enthusiasts.
He said the festival has evolved into a platform for dialogue, creativity and cultural exchange, with growing participation reflecting that ideas and creative expression transcend geographical boundaries.
Highlighting Kulgam’s civilisational heritage, the LG recalled the contributions of Yogini Lalleshwari, Nund Rishi, Sayyid Hussain Simnani and other saints and thinkers associated with the region’s Rishi-Sufi tradition.
He said the tradition placed humanity above divisions and dialogue above discord, describing the ‘Veshow Festival’ as a contemporary expression of this cultural legacy.
The Lieutenant Governor proposed five measures for the festival’s expansion, including establishing a Veshow Archive, promoting multilingual translations through modern language technologies, expanding mobile libraries to remote villages, linking the festival with tourism, handicrafts and homestays, and setting up a Veshow Writers’ Residency to attract authors and poets from across the country.
“We must connect the Veshow Festival directly with tourism and handicrafts. By leveraging the branding of the festival, homestays and offbeat destinations in the region can be promoted. This festival must be transformed into a cultural movement,” he said.
LG Sinha also encouraged young people to use digital platforms and podcasts to document and promote Kulgam’s stories, traditions, literature and crafts.
The festival, he said, brings literature, art, heritage and livelihoods together, providing a platform for writers and poets while showcasing traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
“Let us preserve the rich heritage, promote culture, and shape a new Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor felicitated the ‘Keepers of Veshow Heritage’, visited an exhibition on Veshow traditions and released the festival magazine.
Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, former DDC Chairman Mohammad Afzal Parray, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar, DIG South Kashmir Javed Iqbal Mattoo, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Shahzad Alam and SSP Kulgam Anayat Ali Choudhary were also present on the occasion—(KNO)