Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, today flagged off 80 member contingent to represent the UT in the prestigious National Youth Festival (NYF), being held at Hugli in Karnataka from 12th to 16th January, 2023.
Secretary termed the young artists, hailing from various districts of Jammu and Kashmir, as UT's ambassadors and messengers of peace, harmony and prosperity.
Director Youth Services and Sports J&K, Subash Chander Chibber; Joint Director Youth Services and Sports (J), Suram Chand Sharma; Joint Director Youth Services and Sports (K), Bashir Ahmed and District Youth Services and Sports Officers (DYSSOs) were present on the occasion.
While appreciating the organisers for conducting 5-day long programme in a most befitting manner, Sarmad said that the Youth Festivals serve as a launching pad to inculcate spirit and build camaraderie, friendship, brotherhood and togetherness among the participants.
He said that government was committed to promote youth activities and sports in the Union Territory. Earlier, Director Youth Services and Sports presented a welcome address.
Earlier, young and experienced artists drawn from various districts of twin divisions exhibited the cultural diversity of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and also portrayed picture of unity in diversity through their performances.
In multiple cultural events, the artists hailing from different Districts of J&K exhibited the cultural diversity of the UT disseminating the message of the culture of their respective areas.
The programme is being carried out under the aegis of the Department of Youth Services and Sports J&K. The event is being adjudicated by a panel of experts comprising of Bishan Das, former Cultural Officer, Academy of Art, Culture and Languages; Antu Kotwal, Folk Singer and Ravi Sharma, Choreographer.
The National Youth Festival in India is being celebrated every year to commemorate the Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda from 12th to 16th of January with the aim to promote the concept of National Integration, spirit of communal harmony and brotherhood among the youth.
The youth from different states of India showcase their cultural prowess on a common platform. A total of 524 youth artists drawn from various districts of the Union Territory took part in the Inter-District Festival, out of which, 80-member contingent has been selected for NYF including officials.
The selected teams for competitive events included folk song of the artists from Bandipora district, folk dance from Doda and Srinagar districts, while in non-competitive events, there is one act play from Budgam district and Bharatnatyam and Elocation from Doda and Kishtwar districts respectively.