KOCHI: Stage is set for curtains to go up on the second Kerala State CBSE Schools Youth Festival which is to take place for four days from Thursday at Viswadeepthi CMI Public School, Adimali. A total of 8,000 students drawn from over 1,300 CBSE schools across the state will participate in 145 events in five categories on 21 stages at the festival. The event is being conducted jointly by Kerala CBSE Schools Management Association and Confederation of Kerala Sahodya Complexes. P J Joseph MLA will inaugurate the festival at 4 pm. Cine actor Sai Kumar will be the chief guest. Kerala CBSE Schools Management Association president T P M Ibrahim Khan will preside over the function.
S. Rajendran, MLA, Confederation of Sahodaya Complexes president K. Unnikrishan and Kerala CBSE Schools Management Association general secretary and general convener of the festival Ms Indira Rajan will deliver the keynote address. M.M. Mani, MLA, Roshy Augustine, MLA, Fr Jose Thuravackal, Francis K. A. and Suchithra Shyjinth will participate. According to Indira Rajan the arrival of the youth festival to Idukki district is significant in more than one way. "It is because of our resolve that every district in the state should be able to host the state event that we brought it to Adimali which is 27 km down Munnar. Moreover students will get a different experience in the hilly environs surrounded by lush greenery far away from the hustle and bustle of cities where mostly youth festivals are hosted.
The fest would be an eco-friendly as happened last year and children would be asked to ensure that the nature is left intact after five days of the event. "This festival would be a study in itself for the participants. Those who had finished at the first two places in the district youth festivals would be participating in it. Kalotsav convenor and Viswadeepthi CMI Public School principal Tomy Nambiaparambil said preparations for the smooth conduct of the festival have been completed. "We are very happy to host this mega event and look forward to five days when students play to the tune and rhythm of art and music," he said. Joyce George, MP, MLAs Roshy Augustine, E.S. Bijimol, cine artists Bindu Panicker, Lakshmipiya, Jewel Mary and Anusree will be participating as the guests of honour during the festival days. Competitions will start at 8.30 am.
Events on the inaugural day include duffmuttu, one act play, western music, Bharatnatyam, folk dance, Mohiniyattam, elocution Malayalam and English, recitation English, versification Malayalam, English and Hindi, story telling in Malayalam, English and Hindi, pencil drawing, painting -water colour, cartoon, painting -oil colour, painting -crayon, essay Malayalam and English, poster designing, collage, power point presentation and digital painting. These events will start in the morning itself.
On the second day, competitions will be held in Mohiniyattam, group dance, Bharatanatyam, Margam Kali, recitation Malayalam, English and Hindi, light music, patriotic song, mimicry, classical music, Mappilapattu, violin, guitar and mridangam. Students will vie with each other in margamkali, kolkali, duffmuttu, folk dance, Kuchupudy, oppana, recitation-Sanskrit, Arabic, Hindi, mono act, elocution in Hindi, extempore Malayalam, English and Hindi, mappila pattu, light music, anchoring, classical music and band display on the third day. On the concluding day competitions in mime, folk dance, Bharatanatyam, Ottamthullal, extempore Hindi, mono act, light music, classical music, tabla and flute will be held.
MG University pro vice-chancellor Dr Sheena Shukoor will inaugurate the valedictory function. S Rajendran MLA and Kerala CBSE Schools Management Association president T P M Ibrahim Khan will deliver the keynote addresses. Confederation of Kerala Sahodaya Complexes president K Unnikrishnan will preside. E S Bijimol MLA, Muvattupuzha Carmel Province provincial Rev Fr Thomas Manjakunnel and finance committee convenor K M Haris will offer felicitations. Cine artist Anusree will distribute prizes to the winners. Dr Indira Rajan and Confederation of Kerala Sahodaya Complexes secretary K.A. Fancis and Fr Tomy Nambiaparambil will participate. The logo of the festival was unveiled by Union Minister Venkaih Naidu in the presence of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Prof P.J. Kurian and LSG Minister K.T. Jaleel. Idukki Bishop Mar Mathew Anikuzhikkattil laid the pole for the festival. Students participating in the festival will be camping in the educational institutions in the 8 km radius. "The last youth festival is known for the timely completion of various contests and this time too we are aiming for the same. There have been not much appeals also last time compared to state stream youth festival," said Indira Rajan.
Indira Rajan said that following the example set in Kerala, CBSE schools in several other states too are going for state level youth festivals this year. "We have already petitioned the Union HRD Minister Mr Prakash Javadekar to conduct a youth festival solely for CBSE unaided schools across the country which may materialise this academic year," Indira Rajan added.
