In Ladakh, a community museum began in Gya – Sasoma villages of Leh district yesterday to preserve and take forward its rich cultural heritage. Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, (LAHDC), Leh Chairman Tashi Gyaltson inaugurated the Community Museum.<br />''<br />''AIR correspondent reports, In one of the highest inhabited on earth, Ladakh culture primarily resides in its villages. In its close-knit communities, the rich culture is still intact. In the first of its kind in India, Gya – Sasoma villagers in Leh, have contributed a variety of articles and collections to establish the Community Museum in a traditional Ladakhi House.<br />''<br />''Arguably, Gya is the first village and oldest inhabitation in Upper Ladakh. Along the Gya-Sasoma villagers, women associations of the villages, Department of Museology National Museum Institute, NMI New Delhi, and the LAHDC, Leh together have participated in the establishment of the Community Museum.<br />''<br />''The function is also attended by University of Ladakh, Professor S.K Mehta, Brig Yogesh Sharma and  G B Pant NIHE Ladakh Centre Director Dr. Subrat Sharma, Hill Council representatives and other dignitaries.<br />''<br />''In the Museum, traditional utility items, textiles, dresses and the antiquities of day-to-day life of Gya-Sasoma are the main attractions. The traditional house, where the museum is established has various architectural spaces and features.<br />''<br />''Today, LAHDC Leh CEO and DC Shrikant Suse and  Dean  National Museum Institute, NMI New Delhi Professor Dr. Manvi Seth, have signed a MoU for technical assistance and further development of the museum.<br />''<br />''Gya is situated on the Leh-Manali National Highway.<br />''<br />''The Community Museum will be an anchorage point for the young generations of Ladakh to their identity and to the visitors to understand this region. Museum has a work-in-progress corner, with a hope to get more collections from people's contributions and further grow.<br />