The nine-day Mighty Maryul festival, at The Claridges, bridges the cultural gap between the cities, with a focus on the union territory’s rich local cuisine, music and fashion. By Khushbu Kirti

It will not be right to not appreciate the latest efforts on part of a number of organisations or hotels to promote India's rich cultural heritage, and bring the current generation one step closer to decolonisation. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for going global, however, inculcating foreign traditions while forgetting or ignoring our own is something unacceptable, in my opinion.

Thus, when I received the opportunity to explore the Ladakh Cultural Festival at The Claridges, I was full of excitement. I had not, yet, visited the union territory (for I’m still exploring my initial bucket-list places in India), and so when I tell you I was made to experience the actual culture at the event yesterday, I mean it.

In order to celebrate Ladakh’s fascinating culture, The Claridges, New Delhi, is hosting the Mighty Maryul Festival, in the heart of the capital from November 10. The nine-day fest will exhibit resplendent art and artefacts, of which I caught a pretty great glimpse.

As I entered the Claridges garden, I was welcomed by a charming lady in a costume in bright colours. She said something I could not comprehend, and the reason could either be that I was mesmerised by the vibrancy or the not-so-valid fact that I did not understand the local language. Everywhere I looked, I could see performers and guests who had travelled all the way from the larger Kashmiri region.

Dr Latika Nath, a wildlife photographer from Ladakh who is often known as the ‘tiger princess’ for she has pursued PhD in tiger management and makes documentaries on snow leopards, was the host for the evening.

With a focus on Ladakh’s beautiful fashion, delectable cuisine and revelling music, the event began with an informative and engrossing presentation by Dr Monisha Ahmed, a researcher on textiles from Himalayas and an expert on the Changthang region of Ladakh. She shared her knowledge on the textiles from Ladakh and emerging fashion in the demonstration.

It was followed by a cultural pop-up, a fashion show put together by renowned Ladakhi fashion designers, Jigmat Norbu and Jigmet Wangmo, that entranced the spectators.

On subsequent days, Jigmat Couture’s statement pieces will be showcased at the premises, where patrons can buy the sustainable brand’s products and enjoy the alluring textures of Ladakhi craftsmanship. The pop-up was accompanied by an enthralling live musical performance by a Ladakhi folk singer and instrumentalist, Tsewang Phuntsog. On having a word with Phuntsog, he exclaimed that he was having the time of his life performing and bringing to life his local culture.

Also being exhibited are the accessories of Lena Ladakh Pashmina by Stanzin Minglak and Sonam Angmo, and exhibitions by landscape artist Kunal Batra, and Thakalis Art Gallery. I presume this will be a visual treat for the art and history enthusiasts.

Since the Ladakhi cuisine is a major theme throughout the festival, noted chefs Pankaj Sharma and Nilza Wangmo will be presenting traditional and contemporary flavours of Ladakh every night.

In a conversation with Nilza, a Nari Shakti awardee who also owns a restaurant called Alchi Kitchen in Alchi, Ladakh, she expressed, “I’m cooking all the main dishes of Ladakh, including the traditional tea, the dzomo (yak cheese), a lot of herbs and mountain spices. Through me, Ladakh food is travelling out of Ladakh.”

Speaking about her signature dishes, she added, “People must try the Khamer, Yakini pulao, and Gur gur chao (salty tea with butter).”

I noticed that the culture of Ladakh is similar to Tibetan culture on many levels. Ladakh was hugely influenced by Buddhism which reflects in the Ladakhis’ clothing. The traditional Ladakhi attire includes the Perak, a headgear studded with precious stones and usually worn by women on special occasions, a Kuntop or a woollen robe, and a Bok shawl that was inherently used by women to carry children. Men wear Goncha, a traditional robe, and a Skerag waist-band. The art and craft of Ladakh include woven cloth-like Pashmina, stick and wood baskets, carvings of wood, and various paintings. The aforementioned traditions will be displayed at The Claridges till November 18.