Bangalore: President to be Invited to National Youth Festival at Mangalore on Jan 12

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 22: Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who called on Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken in Delhi on Monday, has informed him about the State Government’s decision to invite President Pratibha Patil for inaugurating the five-day National Youth Festival being held in Mangalore from January 12.

The Chief Minister discussed the preparations for the 17th National Youth Festival being organized in the coastal city of Mangalore which would be inaugurated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekandanda and the celebrations in the following week would be observed as National Youth Week.

The logo, mascot and website of the festival would be launched soon, the Chief Minister said in a press release.

About 10,000 youths from different parts of the country will participate in various sports, elocution, photography competitions and group competitions in dance, song, and music at the five-day Youth Festival for which the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry has sanctioned Rs 2 crore to the State Government.

The main aim of the festival is to gather youth from different parts of the country to take part in various events, constituting national integration, brotherhood, adventure and communal
harmony, the note said.

The last year’s National Youth Festival was held at Udaipur in Rajasthan.

The main aim of the festival is to gather youth from different parts of the country to take part in various events, constituting national integration, brotherhood, adventure and communal harmony.

The officials said the district youth festivals are organised to select the state contingent to participate in National youth festival. ``This annual event gives an opportunity to the youth to participate, interact, perform and excel in different cultural events,” they said.

The participation has been promoting not only the hidden talent of the youth coming over all the parts of the country but also infusing in them the sense of harmony and national integration through closer interaction that the occasion of this national festival provides, officials said.

The coming festival includes competitions in classical dances like Bharata Natyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, and Kathak, classical instrumental solo such as mridangam, flute, veena, sitar, tabla, guitar, carnatic vocal solo, hindustani vocal solo, harmonium, folk song, folk dance, elocution, one act play, painting competition, sculpture competition, and photography competition, officials said.