Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described Basohli Utsav as the Mahakumbh of art, culture and tradition during its inauguration on September 28, 2025, at Basohli in Kathua district. The event organised by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages along with the Divisional Administration Jammu and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts drew attendance from Col (Retd) Mahan Singh, DDC Chairman Kathua, and Thakur Darshan Singh, MLA Basohli. Sinha told the gathering that the festival reminds all sections of society of their role as inheritors of India’s great heritage who must contribute to cultural renaissance and the journey toward a developed India, according to a Daily Excelsior report.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted India’s growing economic power alongside its culture, art and traditions that are gaining global recognition, with philosophical, spiritual and artistic capabilities drawing worldwide admiration. This interest strengthens the country’s soft power, Sinha stated in his address at the festival. He framed Basohli Utsav as an opportunity to promote Brand Basohli domestically and abroad while creating a global platform for local handicrafts and the area’s world-renowned paintings.
Sinha characterised Basohli as a complete exuberance of art and culture with sensitivity embedded in its traditions, positioning the town as more than a geographical location or historical footnote. The Lieutenant Governor called it an energy field for seekers engaged in art, literature and tradition who dedicate their lives to mastering various forms. A Daily Excelsior report quoted him saying a whole-of-government approach is essential to promote Basohli paintings across the country and internationally while ensuring prosperity for the artists.
Basohli paintings secured Geographical Indication registration in 2023, according to the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom Jammu, which identified the craft as the first independent GI-tagged product from the Jammu region. The Directorate has supported training centres in the area and recommended artisans for exhibitions to expand market access under schemes that include One District One Product initiatives for Kathua. Officials from the Directorate have also worked to list the paintings on major e-commerce platforms to reach broader audiences.
Art historians trace Basohli painting as the earliest distinct school of Pahari miniature art that flourished from the late 17th to mid-18th century in the hill state now part of Kathua district. The style features bold primary colours, strong outlines, large expressive eyes and occasional use of beetle-wing fragments to depict emeralds, with early masterpieces including illustrated series of the Rasamanjari and works linked to local rulers such as Kirpal Pal. Scholars note its fusion of Hindu mythological themes with local folk elements helped lay foundations for wider Pahari traditions across the Himalayan foothills.
Sinha urged local youth to join the symposium and workshop on the Ramayana held as part of the Basohli Utsav programme. The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that such platforms allow younger generations to engage directly with their artistic inheritance. His remarks align with ongoing administration efforts to integrate cultural promotion into broader development strategies for the Union Territory.
