EMN
Dimapur, June 2
Naga youths are doing their bit too. The 4th North East Youth Festival saw the Naga contingent returning home with a title to boast about – the best contingent prize.
The youth festival was conducted in Majuli, the world biggest river island, in Assam. The festival commenced from May 29 and culminated on May 31. The festival was organized by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) on behalf of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, with the theme “Youth for Environment Heritage & Culture”The youths from Nagaland were also the largest contingent during the youth festival, the organizers informed in a press release issued to the media on Tuesday, June 2. They were represented by the department of Youth Resources & Sports, the NSS, and the NYKS of Nagaland in all the competitive and non-competitive events.
They won various positions in the entire competitions. In the rock music competition, the first prize was taken by The Stonites, of Livingstone Foundation Higher Secondary School in Dimapur.
In the classical guitar competition, the first prize went to D Atso Chasie, of Khonoma village in Kohima.
In the folk music singing competition, Kiphire Cultural Team took the second prize. In the folk dance competition, Mokokchung Cultural Team took the third prize. In the one-act play, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School of Kohima took the third prize.
The festival was inaugurated by Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Ananth Kumar.
Also, addressing the valedictory function, Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya exhorted the youth to take responsibility in preserving the cultural diversity and unity of the nation. Describing Majuli as a “dev bhumi”, the governor said the traditional heritage and culture of the riverine island should be preserved. “Education and employment are the major problems of the youth and efforts should be made towards providing them with quality education and employability skills,” the governor added.
With contingents from the eight north east states, NYKS volunteers, and delegates from other states for the food festival and Yuva Kriti and cultural troupes and youth delegates from the neighboring districts, about 2100 youth delegates participated in the festival.
Director of Youth Resources & Sports, Asangla Imti had congratulated all the participants and the winners for bringing laurels to Nagaland.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr. Mahesh Sharma were also present on the occasion. Minister for Transport, Excise, Sports & Youth Affairs, Govt. of Assam Ajit Singh along with prominent Members of Parliament from Assam were also present at the inaugural function as the guests of honor.
