*‘Mamani’ Traditional Food Festival Celebrated in Kargil with full fervour*Sajjad Hussain23 Jan. 17,Kargil.

Mamani Festival (a traditional celebration of community and ethnic foods) with a moto to revive these foods in Kargil today by Global Institute of Information Technology (GIIT) Kargil with the support of LAHDC Kargil at Language Center, Lal Chowk Kargil.

Traditionally the event is celebrated on 21st January every year as a mark of ending of winter season but due to the engagement of people at their respective places to celebrate the event was organised on 23rd January, stated by Hadi Ali Chairman GIIT Kargil.

He further told that Mamani Festival will help revive and support the preparation and consumption of ethnic Ladakhi foods, whose nutritional value and social important have been tested over several centuries and generations.

People from all over Kargil participated in the festival where more than 15 stalls has been established with different dishes which includes, Harsab Khur, Marzan, Popot, Apricote Soup, Goku, Nasjran, Poli (TanTan), etc.

On this occasion the Chief Guest Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan, along with Guest Of Honour, Executive Councillor, Advocate Mohamad Amir, Executive Councillor Mohammad Hussain, Special Guest Deputy Commissioner Kargil Haji Gulzar Hussain, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kacho Turab Shah, District Officers, Religious Heads, Officers from Project Vijayak visited the stalls and tasted the dishes.

The Chief Guest appreciated the effort of the organization and termed the event as a revolution in the history of revival of culture.

Pointing towards the dress up of most of the people present there Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan told that it was the first step towards revival of culture after the introduction of Eigye by the Council.

Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan showing his excitement and his belongingness towards culture told that other traditional events like Minduk Gryaspa, Strubla etc should also be revived in future and these events will sure become attraction for tourist to visit Kargil in future.

On this occasion a panel of Judges comprising of AD Tourism Aga Syed Toha, CMO Kargil Dr Jaffar Akhone, Ar Akhone Mehdi Coordinator KVK Kargil, Headquarter Assistant to Deputy Commissioner Kargil Mohammad Shabir and local representative Haji Mohammad after inspection of the stalls selected the best three dishes for prize.

Kacho Ahmad Ali Khan Distributed Prizes to the stall of Zara Banoo from Chiktan who was adjudged 1st Position, Stall of Abass Ali Khan Goma Kargil for 2nd and stall of Haji Ghulam Haider Baroo for 3rd position.

Guest of Honour Advocate Mohammad Amir also spoke on the tradition of Mami and its historical relevance. He further told that LAHDC is trying to revive the traditions of Ladakh, which were characterized by public gatherings and bonding for cultural and communal harmony in society, If we fail to do this, a lot of our traditions and practices will be lost forever.

Meanwhile Research Scholar from Kargil Irshand Ahmad told that Mamni is not only a food festival but an Art to display the traditional values of our culture and our history is hidden behind these festival and most of which are at dying stage. He further added that one can see the impact of Tibetan and Persian influence on these dishes which indicates its historical importance.