Pr Secy YSS inaugurates Inter-Distt Youth Festival

Jammu| : The philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and the ideals for which he lived and worked have always been a great source of inspiration for the Indian youth. So the present youth of our nation needs to take a leaf from Swamiji’s book to achieve success.
This was stated by the Principal Secretary to Government, Youth Services and Sports Department, Alok Kumar while inaugurating Inter-District Youth Festival in an impressive, colourful and well attended function at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, here Saturday.
The event, which in other words is a selection/preparation camp for the artistic youth to be picked for the National Youth Festival, being held at Puducherry from January 12 to January 16, is being organised by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, J&K.
Mr Alok Kumar was the Chief Guest on the occasion, while Gazanfar Ali, Director Youth Services and Sports J&K presided over the function.
Both the dignitaries alongwith other officers of the Department, lighted the ceremonial lamp to officials declare the event open.
Young artists representing different districts presented a variety of cultural and other allied items, portraiting picture of the tradition of their areas, enthralled the audience.
The cultural items performed in presence of the Chief Guest included folk song/dance by a group of artists from Srinagar district, folk song by a group from Kathua district, Kathak by Jammu district, folk dance by Budgam and Bandipora districts and kud dance by a group from Doda district.
According to the organisers a total of 344 young artists, with 207 boys and 137 girls drawn from all 20 districts of J&K are taking part in this mega event, excluding 48 contingent in-charges.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest threw light on the significance of National Youth Festival and the National Youth Day as well.
He said, the National Youth Day also known as Vivekanda Jayanti is celebrated from the year 1985, adding that the youth of the nation should be firm believers of Vivekananda’s saying-“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is achieved”.
He said youth is an important segment of the society and their energy needs to be channelized in the right direction.
“The events like Youth Festivals provide ample opportunity to the youth to showcase their artistic talent, exchange culture and develop camaraderie,” Principal Secretary further said.
The Director Sports lavished praise on the Conveners of various committees for making superb arrangements to hold the event in a befitting manner.
Both the dignitaries, the Principal Secretary and the Director Youth Services and Sports served strict instructions to the in-charges of various contingents with regard to adhering to the SOPs and other Government guidelines during ongoing COVID pandemic.
The proceedings of the programme were beautifully conducted by Mohammad Yousuf and Rajesh Sambyal, officials of the department.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were Bashir Ahmed, Joint Director (K), Jatinder Mishra, Deputy Director Jammu and DYSSOs from various districts.