Schools youth fete begins with colourful pageantry

By Our Staff Reporter

THODUPUZHA, JAN. 10. The 41st Kerala State Schools Youth Festival got under way here today.

Lighting a traditional lamp to mark the inauguration, the Minister for Education, Mr. P.J. Joseph, pointed to the dire need for setting up a centre of excellence for providing continuing training for the young talents in their select areas.

While a minority of the talents spotted at the school level competitions goes in for furthering their talents, the majority settles for a more mundane life. The setting up of a centre for excellence to nurture such outstanding talents is the need of the hour, he said.

Mr. M.P. Shaukat, municipal chairman, Thodupuzha, presided. Mr. E M Agasthy and Mr. P.P. Sulaiman Rawther, MLAs, and others spoke on the occasion.

This year's festival may have a unique place in history as the one which started off with the presentation of the Kalathilakom- 1999-2000 award to Aparna G. Sharma of Thrissur. Last year's Kalathilakom selection had run into controversies and Aparna was selected after court intervention. The occasion also reminded one of the dirty politics being played behind one of the country's premier cultural festivals.

More than 5,000 students are competing in over 100 events during the next four days.

The festive mood in the town was expressed in the colourful cultural pageantry taken out prior to the opening session of the five-day event. The procession started off from the St. Sebastian's High School to the main venue at New Man College at 3 p.m. Led by a team of 41 women on two-wheelers, the pageantry consisted of boys and girls on bicycles, roller skating team, music bands and contingents from Scouts and Guides.

Floats depicting Sree Krishna and Gopikas, Margomkali and Oppana added colour to the procession.

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Section  : Southern States
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