Kulgam, a land long woven with the verses of saints and the songs of the soil, became the stage for a bold cultural pitch on Wednesday, as Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Veshow Festival and urged Jammu and Kashmir to claim its place as the cultural heart of the country.
Addressing an audience of scholars, writers, poets, artists and literary enthusiasts, the Lieutenant Governor described Veshow as a symbol of the intellectual, literary and cultural consciousness of Jammu and Kashmir. Since its launch in 2023, he said, the festival has grown into a vibrant and widely recognised forum for dialogue, creativity and cultural exchange.
“The growing participation of writers and readers demonstrates that ideas and creative expression transcend geographical boundaries,” he said.
A district where spirit and soil meet
Turning to Kulgam’s heritage, the LG said the district embodies a rare tradition in which spirituality, creativity, nature and humanity have lived side by side for centuries. He invoked the towering figures of the Rishi-Sufi tradition, Yogini Lalleshwari, Nund Rishi, Sayyid Hussain Simnani and other saints and thinkers, who laid the foundations of compassion, simplicity, brotherhood and spiritual awakening in the region.
That tradition, he observed, places humanity above divisions and dialogue above discord. He called Veshow its modern expression, a living legacy and a celebration of ideas, creativity and possibility.
Where books, art and livelihood stand together
The LG praised the festival’s design, which brings literature, art, heritage and livelihood onto one platform. Alongside literary sessions and book launches, Veshow showcases traditional craftsmanship and includes an antique village that brings the region’s history and customs to life.
“In this festival, books, art, and livelihood stand together… Between these two is an antique village, a symbol of our heritage. I hope everyone will leave having learned something from one another,” he said.
A five-point blueprint for Veshow’s future
The LG then laid out an agenda to take the festival well beyond its annual calendar:
- A “Veshow Archive” to document oral traditions, folk tales and folk poetry
- Modern language technologies to promote multilingual translations
- Mobile libraries extended to remote villages
- Integration with tourism, handicrafts and homestays
- A “Veshow Writers’ Residency” to draw 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.
A call to the young storytellers
The LG also urged young people to pick up digital platforms and podcasts to record and spread the stories, traditions, literature and crafts of Kulgam. He expressed confidence that the festival would inspire young minds, support artisans and strengthen the Union Territory’s emergence as a national cultural hub.
“Let us preserve the rich heritage, promote culture, and shape a new Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
On the occasion, the LG felicitated the ‘Keepers of Veshow Heritage’, visited the Exhibition on Veshow Traditions and released the Festival Magazine.
Those present included Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami; Mohd Afzal Parray, former Chairman, District Development Council Kulgam; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg; IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar; DIG South Kashmir Javed Iqbal Mattoo; Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Shahzad Alam; SSP Kulgam Anayat Ali Choudhary; and prominent figures from the literary field, along with youth and a large gathering of residents.
