Dimapur, Jan. 5 (EMN): A national-level Kala Utsav online competition 2022 (Arts Festival) is underway at the Directorate School Education, Kohima. The 12-day national online competition, which began on January 1 would culminate on January 12.
The Arts Festival 2020-21 is being organised jointly by the department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, government of India, and the National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi, informed Liyalo Apong, deputy mission director of Samagra Shiksha. He stated that the Art Festival is focused on promoting traditional folk and classical art forms that reflect India's rich culture, tradition and civilisation and also to create a platform to explore, exchange, and experience the diverse cultural heritage of the country. He added that the Arts Festival would highlight the importance of culture and develop a better sense of identity, belongingness as well as an appreciation of other cultures.
Kala Utsav is an initiative of the department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education (MoE), government of India, launched in 2015. Since 2015, it has been celebrated every year.
Kala Utsav is celebrated to promote arts in education by nurturing and showcasing the artistic talent of school students of the secondary level. It also provides an opportunity to understand and celebrate cultural diversity at the school, district, state and national levels. It also aims to create awareness about India's rich cultural traditions and their practice among different stakeholders and helps in the creative expansion from individual to the community, which in turn would contribute towards the overall development of the society.
There are nine categories of competition for both female and male participants. Out of 18 participants from Nagaland, 12 participants are performing at the Directorate of School Education Studio for six days as per the schedule and the remaining six participants of Visual Art 2D, 3D and indigenous toys and games will be held at a separate hall scheduled on January 5 and 6.
Apong informed that the winners of the state-level competition from across the state are participating in the competition.