Nagaland is set to host the 9th North East Youth Festival in Chümoukedima from March 17 to 22 with 1,500 youths.
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DIMAPUR — Nagaland is all set to host the North East Youth Festival for the second time, scheduled to be held from March 17 to the 22nd in Chümoukedima.
This was informed by Director of Youth Resources and Sports Kethosituo Sekhose during a press conference held at the Chümoukedima Football Stadium premises on March 16.
Sekhose said that the 9th edition of the festival is funded and managed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, under the National Adolescence and Youth Development Programme.
He added that while the rest of the country hosts the National Youth Festival, the Northeast has been given the opportunity to organise its own regional youth festival while also participating in the national event.
The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Chümoukedima Football Stadium on March 18 and 21 respectively.
He added that competitive events on March 19–20 will include folk song, folk dance, declamation, one-act play, rock band and instrumental guitar competitions, while non-competitive activities will feature folk song, folk dance and martial arts.
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A total of 200 volunteers from the National Service Scheme (NSS) and 200 volunteers from My Bharat and 150 volunteers from the state will assist during the festival.
The Governor of Nagaland has consented to attend the opening ceremony as the special guest, while Minister for Higher Education and Tourism, Temjen Imna Along, is expected to attend the closing ceremony.
Sekhose also informed that the festival theme is “Ashtalakshmi: Celebrating 8 forces of youth and progress", reflecting the term used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to describe the eight Northeastern states.
A special theme song has also been produced under the aegis of the Task Force for Music & Arts (TaFMA), with one stanza dedicated to each of the eight states, and the Hornbill has been chosen as the festival mascot.
He also informed that 24 committees have been constituted to oversee accommodation, transportation, and other logistical arrangements for the festival, with each committee currently carrying out its assigned responsibilities.
He informed that the facilities at Tetso College will host several events, seminars and activities, while on March 20, selected participants will also take part in a Youth Adventure Programme involving trekking at Pulie Badze and a visit to the Kohima War Cemetery.
Meanwhile, State Director of My Bharat Nagaland Dr. Salam D Singh informed that a Food Festival and Yuva Kriti (Craft Mela) will be organised at the Tetso College basketball ground to promote interaction through cuisine and local crafts, with participation from entrepreneurs and stall owners.
Regional Director of the National Service Scheme, North East Region Guwahati, D Carthigueae, said 200 NSS volunteers from across the country will attend the festival.
The NSS will organise a Youth Convention and Youth Suvichar sessions, featuring four resource persons who will conduct interactive discussions on youth development and entrepreneurship.