N-E teams crowd pullers
TMA Pai International Convention Centre, the main venue and food court of 17th National Youth Festival was filled with the energetic young Indians on Wednesday. 
One could see a slice of culturally diverse India at the centre as the participants from Kashmir to Kerala and Rajasthan to Manipur arrived. In fact, the youth power is visible as the atmosphere was filled with laughs, songs and claps. However, a 79-member team from Mizoram was a centre of attraction for some time as they carried a pole decorated with some unknown animal skin and feathers and a golden colour rod.
The team started their journey from Aizwal five days back, and just reached Mangalore! But there was no sign of any tiredness on their faces. Their items in the festival include a cultural dance, drama and group song. Group captain Khapha Azyu is happy with the hospitality in the coastal city. “We are very happy with the facilities. The climate is also some what similar to ours.” he said.
On the other hand, Jharkand Nodal officer Dr Prakash Kumar Jha is in Mangalore with a 72-member team. Unlike other nodal officers who are worrying about their members, he seemed to have no tension on his face. Pointing at Sumana, one of his team members, he said that she was the youngest in the team and he was the oldest. “But she is the engine of our train,” he said and added that he is enjoying each and every moment of the festival. His only complaint was about the traveling. “We have got accommodation at NITK, Surathkal. But it took one hour for us to reach here,” he said.
Adventure sports
Meanwhile, speaking to Deccan Herald, Programme Director and Coordinator of Adventurous Sports Umashankar from state Youth Services and Sports department said that arrangements for the adventurous sports were excellent. “We had opened the adventurous sports venues for the public till Wednesday for nominal fee, and the response is very good. From Thursday onwards, that will be exclusively for participants,” he said.
Senon, Ronny and James from Goa, Ashish Basnet and friends from the land of butterflies Sikkim were all enjoying each and every moment of the festival. The festival is providing a unique picture of Future India and the cultural diversity India is possessing. The festival clearly underlines the famous words of Jawahar Lal Nehru who once said about India, ‘Unity in Diversity’.
