NVI Correspondent
Jammu, Dec13 (NVI): In a remarkable achievement for Jammu and Kashmir’s youth, 30 talented artists and students have been selected to represent the Union Territory at the prestigious 28th National Youth Festival.
The event is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on January 11 and 12, 2025, under the benign presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The festival aims to empower young individuals by providing them with a national platform to showcase their skills, creativity, and cultural diversity, while fostering leadership qualities and a sense of community.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Inter-Division UT-level competition, Secretary for Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, lauded the immense potential of the region’s youth. He stressed the importance of identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots level by ensuring access to quality education enriched with high moral values and ethical standards. Hafeez emphasized that the youth of today possess unparalleled energy and dynamism, which, when channeled correctly, can lead to transformative social and cultural contributions.
The Secretary highlighted the role of such events in guiding the youth towards constructive paths, steering them away from drug abuse and other social evils. He expressed his gratitude to the organizers, parents, teachers, and trainers for their dedication and efforts in making the event a grand success. Hafeez described the upcoming opportunity to participate in the National Youth Festival as a “dream come true” for the selected participants, enabling them to interact with peers from across the country, exchange ideas, and learn from diverse cultural experiences.
The selected 30 artists and students impressed audiences with their stellar performances in various categories, including 10 in Folk Song, 10 in Folk Dance, and 2 each in Painting, Poetry, Thematic Presentations, Story Writing, and Declamation. Their participation in the festival will not only showcase the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir but also promote cultural exchange and understanding, a key objective of the event.
Deputy Director of Youth Services and Sports (Central), Jitendra Mishra, welcomed the attendees and shed light on the significance of the day, noting that the festival aims to identify and nurture young talent while fostering a vision for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). Sarmad Hafeez further added that events like these help the youth build friendships, exchange languages and traditions, and develop a sense of unity in diversity.
Prominent dignitaries present at the event included Rajinder Singh Tara, Director General of Youth Services and Sports, Joint Director Ved Prakash, and an expert panel of adjudicators, all of whom played a vital role in the selection process. The 28th National Youth Festival promises to be a milestone event for the young artists of J&K, inspiring them to reach new heights and contribute meaningfully to their communities.(News Vibes of India)
