Thrissur, Jan 6 (UNI) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the 64th Kerala State School Arts Festival on January 14, with over 10,000 students expected to participate in 249 competition events to be held across 25 venues in this district.
The five-day festival, regarded as the largest cultural event for school students in the state, will conclude on January 18. The Exhibition Ground at Thekkinkadu Maidan will serve as the main venue of the festival.
The official proceedings will begin at 9 am on January 14 with the hoisting of the festival flag by the Director of General Education, followed by the inauguration by the Chief Minister at 10 am.
The run-up to the festival will begin on the evening of January 9 with the formation of a massive student resistance chain against drug abuse, in which around 10,000 students from schools across Thrissur district will take part, General Education Minister V. Sivankutty has said.
The ceremonial Gold Cup will tour various Assembly constituencies in the district on January 12 and 13 and will be accorded a grand reception at the Town Hall at around 3.30 pm on January 13. Nearly 1,000 students, along with NCC, NSS and SPC cadets, will participate in the reception procession.
All the 25 venues have been named after different fragrant flowers, while the theme of this year’s festival is “Responsible Arts Festival.”
The event will be conducted as a fully eco-friendly ‘Green Kalolsavam’ in strict compliance with green protocol.
Ambulance services, drinking water and sanitation facilities will be ensured at all venues. Accommodation has been arranged in 20 schools around the city, with round-the-clock police surveillance at both competition venues and lodging centres. Steps have also been taken to upload the results of each competition immediately on the official website.
The welcome song of the festival has been composed by noted lyricist B.K. Harinarayanan and will be presented under the leadership of Kerala Kalamandalam. The theme song has been prepared by students of a school in Potassery, Palakkad district.
The opening ceremony will showcase Thrissur’s cultural grandeur with the traditional Ilanjithara Melam and a colourful Kudamattam featuring 64 children symbolising the 64th edition of the festival.
The inaugural function will be presided over by General Education and Labour Minister V. Sivankutty. Revenue Minister and Reception Committee Chairman K. Rajan will deliver the welcome address. Higher Education and Social Justice Minister Dr. R. Bindu, union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, other Ministers, MLAs, the Mayor, District Panchayat President, District Collector and City Police Commissioner will attend.
General Education Secretary Dr. K. Vasuki, IAS, will explain the concept of the “Responsible Arts Festival.”
