A festival for youth, a festival of ideas at Manipur University
Sanjit Laishram *
Manipur University Library at Manipur University (MU), Canchipur :: Pix - Phurailatpam Banti
Youth Festival is celebrated in India to commemorate Swami Vivekananda's birthday on January 12, it is celebrated as National Youth Day and the week commencing from that day is known as the National Youth Week. This is done by organizing gatherings of youth across the country and encouraging them to take part in different activities.
As part of National Youth Week celebrations, the Government of India holds the National Youth Festival every year. This event is organized at the level of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and is celebrated annually in one of the States in a joint venture. The youth festival aims to propagate the concept of national integration, spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood, courage and adventure amongst the youth by exhibiting their cultural prowess in a common platform.
Participants have to compete first at inter state competitions to be qualified for zonal level and to qualify for the Pan India meet ,where a few handful selected participate in various competitions is chosen for competition at the national level.
In order to compete at the national level, the young talents should perform to their best of ability to get themselves medals and awards. The sole purpose for organizing MU youth festival 2012 is to select those talented pools of candidates among the various participating colleges, representing various colleges from the valley and the hill district of Manipur.
The best of the best form each of the five disciplines which include music, dance, literary, theatre and fine arts are selected by the cultural coordinator of Manipur University. Selected individuals who are selected in the different events will take part at the East Zone Festival to be held at Ranchi in the first week of December.
The best of individuals are chosen from the competition, as they are the brand ambassador of our state while competing with other talented youth of other Indian states. The three day event organized at Manipur University is also a platform for the visiting students form various colleges of our state to interact and exchange views, thought, cultural and academic related issues.
The youth festival also provides the students the much-needed opportunity to show their talents and give them good exposure. This exposure will boost the confidence of the participating youths from various colleges to face future competitions.
The need to organize such festival at a regular basis is a necessity. It provides a perfect platform for youths to express their talent and passion other then academic excellence.
Looking at the present political and socio economic uncertainty of our state, such festival will only create a healthy atmosphere for all the participating youths form different section of the society irrespective of the caste, creed, sex, religion or community. The positive energy created during the competition among the participating youths will do wonders in a long run.
The joy of participating is another satisfaction altogether. Even though everyone involved in the fest is a winner in himself. Such festivals for the youth not only reflect the spirit of friendship but also peace and development. Besides all this, this festival provides a nation-wide exposure to the youth for the expression and fulfillment of their cultural talents and aspirations.
And I Quote "There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age"
* Sanjit Laishram contributed regularly to e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at sun24lai(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on November 07 2012.
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