Education for all is the way forward. The message was loud and clear at Kanteerava Stadium on Thursday, when thousands of children and teenagers put together a dazzling show to commemorate the 51st Karnataka Rajyotsava Day.

Organised by the Department of Public Instruction, the show redefined colour and young energy, as a near-packed stadium hosted a series of performances that wrapped social messages in a thoroughly entertaining package.

The event started off with a flag march featuring students from eight schools, following which a helicopter did aerial rounds showering flowers on students. Even as crackers were burst and balloons set off, students flashed Suswagatha in Kannada on placards.

Titled Kusumanjali 2007, the show brought together thousands of students on a platform that celebrated the principles of the State’s programmes, including Sarva Shikshana Abhiyana and Asha Kirana.

While children wielding hockey sticks and slates reflected the spirit of sport and learning, white-clad girls rode bicycles in a reference to another State-run scheme. Students of ten schools from City’s fringes chipped in with a highly charged performance.  Around 500 students from seven schools did a fine turn in a Kodava Nritya performance.

Around 2,080 students from 30 schools performed a mass drill. A karate drill by students was part of the show.