The Indian Army unveiled the Kargil Kaleidoscope, The tribute to the region’s culture and art, and is also a sustainable initiative.

By M S Nazki

Someone asked me what is a kaleidoscope is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a symmetrical pattern when viewed from the other end, due to repeated reflection.

-These reflectors are usually enclosed in a tube, often containing on one end a cell with loose, colored pieces of glass or other transparent (and/or opaque) materials to be reflected into the viewed pattern. Rotation of the cell causes motion of the materials, resulting in an ever-changing view being presented.

-Now again the question was asked what is mural art about!

-The word mural is a Spanish adjective that is used to refer to what is attached to a wall. The term mural later became a noun. In art, the word mural began to be used at the beginning of the 20th century.

-In 1906, Dr. Atl issued a manifesto calling for the development of a monumental public art movement in Mexico; he named it in Spanish pintura mural (English: wall painting).

-In ancient Roman times, a mural crown was given to the fighter who was first to scale the wall of a besieged town. “Mural” comes from the Latin muralis, meaning “wall painting”. This word is related to murus, meaning “wall”.

-The story which we got to write upon was, ‘Kargil Kaleidoscope: Ladakh’s Longest Roadside Artistic Mural Unveiled on Republic Day’!

-Indeed a wonderful thing to happen

• On Republic Day, the Indian Army unveiled Kargil Kaleidoscope transforming a 600m stretch of NH 1A into Ladakh’s longest roadside mural—a stunning tribute to art, culture and sustainability!

-Spearheaded by the Indian Army, with support from Team Stringmo, BRO, NHIDCL- National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation and civil administration, the mural reused over 600 discarded coal tar barrels from Zanskar Valley. These recycled canvases now depict Kargil’s rich culture, national pride and environmental themes.

-What else do we want?

-Kargil is a city in Ladakh! It is also the headquarters of the Kargil district. It is the second-largest town in Ladakh after Leh. Kargil is located 204 kilometres (127 mi) east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, and 234 kilometres (145 mi) to the west of Leh. It is on the bank of the Suru River near its confluence with the Wakha Rong river, the latter providing the most accessible route to Leh

-On January 26, 2025, the Indian Army unveiled the Kargil Kaleidoscope, a 600-meter-long roadside mural in Ladakh. The mural was painted on NH 1A by a group of local girls called Team Stringmo. The Kargil Kaleidoscope is a tribute to the region’s culture and art, and is also a sustainable initiative.

How was the mural created?

-The mural was painted using recycled CGI sheets.

-The mural was created under the guidance of the Indian Army.

-The mural was dedicated to the people of Kargil.

-What was the event like?

-The mural was inaugurated by a senior Indian Army officer.

-The officer praised the creativity of Team Stringmo.

-Team Stringmo presented their paintings to the chief guest and other army officials.

-Team Stringmo expressed gratitude to the Indian Army for their support.

-Why was the mural created?

-The mural was created to celebrate the rich local culture of Kargil.

-26 Jan 2025 — RepublicDay2025 “Kargil Kaleidoscope: Ladakh’s Longest Roadside Artistic Mural Unveiled on Republic Day” On RepublicDay…

On Republic Day, the Indian Army unveiled the artistic initiative “Kargil Kaleidoscope”. Kargil, January 26, 2025: On Republic Day, the Indian Army unveiled a one-of-a-kind artistic initiative titled “Kargil Kaleidoscope”, which features a stunning 0.6 km-long artistic canvas made from recycled CGI sheets along NH1A

-Remember it is all about colors and designs, artistically created by the artists who are expert at it and they all happen to be from Kargil!

-Arid Enchantments – The Road from Kargil to Leh!

-Kargil was nice and laidback and the stay at the wooden cottage was a bliss after the rugged road from Srinagar.But a long road to Leh lay ahead.

-Sleep was hard to come by but we managed 3-4 hours of it before getting ready for the road to Leh ahead.

-After moving ahead towards Leh for 50 kms there is a landmark near the town of Mulbek which distinctly welcomes you to Ladakh-the Land of lamas.The cross over is complete with the twin Buddhist monasteries of Mulbek,standing high on hill tops. By the roadside stands the statue of Chamba/Buddha, carved out on a huge rock face and surrounded by a small monastery at its feet. As per the description given there, this is the future Buddha or Buddha-yet-to-come.He will be known as the Buddha of friendship or Maitreya Buddha.The chanting of mantras in the monastery and the morning sun giving warmth to cold soaked souls…..we were in the land of lamas indeed. A group of monks who were travelling to Leh from Mcleodganj(Himachal) informed us that the Dalai Lama would be in Leh in first week of July for the Kalachakra Festival(a Buddhist festival held in Ladakh that has Tantric roots).Unfortunately we would be out of Ladakh by 15th June. After having a satisfying breakfast near the monastery ,we were off for the breathtaking Ladakhi landscape ahead,all 260 kms of it.

-The majestic Zanskar Range that separates Ladakh from rest of India rises before you.The name Ladakh means a “land of high passes” as it houses some of the highest mountain passes in the world which were once used by traders and travelers from China, Mongolia, Central Asia and Middle East to gain access to Indian sub-continent. Ladakh is also the gateway to the far reaches of Himalayas called as Trans-Himalayan region, After massive political upheavals in Tibet in 1950s and further friction between Mao’s Red Guards(members of the cultural revolution by the Communist Party) and the Tibetan Monasteries, many Tibetans fled their homeland for India, including the 14th Dalai Lama who still lives in exile in India. They found a home in the mountains of Ladakh and have thrived there because of their hardworking and simple nature. As per travelers who have been to Tibet, Ladakh is the last repository of Tibetan Buddhism and culture…..and what Tibet has been losing over the years,Ladakh has stored them diligently.

-As the road slowly climbs up the plateau, the 1st high pass in the land of lamas comes to be Namik La (12800 feet)…a place unlike anything you would have seen.It’s almost like standing on a roof and you can see the white range of mountains,looming on the horizon. As is typical of such passes, Buddhist prayer flags adorn the pass as it is believed that the wind high up will carry the prayers down to the valleys and beyond. And the wind is strong here.Many biker gangs zoomed through the pass as over recent years Ladakh has allured adventurous bikers all over the world.Though we did not have the heart to leave this vista,the road ahead was equally delirious and the landscape filled us with anticipation for things to come.

The Road from Kargil to Leh:

The land stretched into spectacular barrenness all around and you could see black serpentine roads spread on the brownish rocky surface…all the way leading upto Leh.After passing the loops in the Moonland,much of the late afternoon was spent climbing further up the Ladakh plateau and then suddenly we were on plain roads and we could see a vast stretch of road laid out on the desert plateau.The Zanskar range looms brilliantly on the horizon behind and the Ladakh range lies straight ahead and you get the hint of Leh somewhere down the straight highway.We were on the last lap on the Srinagar-Leh highway and it was late afternoon with the sun rays slanting on the vast Ladakhi landscape.

Nestled between huge copious mountains,Leh stands starkly isolated from the world outside. Military barracks line the entrance to the town which was once in history, a major thoroughfare in the Silk Route.The sun had set on the gorgeous white peaks adjacent to the city and the one feature that defines Leh stands above everything else in the city-The majestic Leh Palace.

But now this road has added to the glory of Kargil! It is an open theater of human manifestation! What humans create none else can and there are several in the Indian Army! It has all been due to the Fire and Fury Corps!