After ISC, UoM all set to host national youth festival

After the successfully hosting of the 103rd Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Mysuru in the month of January, the University of Mysore (UoM) is gearing up to host yet another mega event.

The varsity, in association with Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will conduct the 31st National Youth Festival from February 15 to 19. It is aptly named ‘Yuva Shatha Sambhrama-2016’, for the year coincides with the centenary celebration of the university.

Vice-Chancellor K S Rangappa told media persons, here, on Friday, “It’s for the first time, the varsity is organising the national-level youth festival, after organising south zone youth festivals in 2009 and 1982. It was called ‘Silver Fest’ in the year 2009.”

Cultural events
As many as 1,200 students from 70 universities are expected to participate, with the festival being the perfect platform to showcase their talent in 23 events under five categories—art forms, music, dance, literary event and theatre and fine arts. Under music alone, there will be seven events: classical vocal solo, classical instrumental solo - percussion and non-percussion, light vocal Indian, Western vocal solo, classical instrumental - Indian and Western. In dance, there will be only two events - folk/tribal and classical dance.

Three literary events are planned - quiz, elocution and debate, followed by three theatre events - one act play, mime and mimicry. Under fine arts—on the spot painting, collage, poster making, clay modelling, cartooning, rangoli and spot photography events will be held.

7 venues & entry free
The events will be conducted in seven different venues - Amphitheatre (Open Air Theatre), Senate Bhavan Auditorium, B M Sri Auditorium (Kuvempu Institute for Kannada Studies, Manasagangotri), Humanities Auditorium, EMRC Auditorium, Fine Arts College and first floor of Senate Bhavan.

Of the total 70 universities expected to participate, a highest of 17 will be from south zone, 15 from east, 14 from west, 13 from north and 11 from central zones.
The first and second prize winners at zonal-level competitions have been short-listed to participate in the national festival.

There is no entry fee for students and general public to watch the programmes at different venues, said Rangappa.

Yaduveer to grace
Scion of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will be the chief guest for the inaugural session on February 15 at 5 pm at Amphitheatre, while film director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar will inaugurate the festival. AIU president Ranbir Singh, secretary general Furqan Qamar and joint secretary Sampson David are expected to participate.