: A few outstanding performances in the Chavittunatakam and band competitions saved the otherwise sleepy start to the 27 Ernakulam Revenue District School youth fest at Tripunithura on Monday.
Traditional favourites St. Sebastian’s, Gothuruthu, mesmerised the audience with their energetic Chavittunatakam performance. Winners of the State youth fest last year, the young students representing the island school in North Paravur re-asserted their dance-drama prowess.
The student artistes won the hearts of the crowd by coming up with attractive costumes and well-defined body movements.
In the high school category, seven teams competed while St. Sebastian’s was the only team in the higher secondary category. The judging panel pointed out that the performances were satisfactory while recalling the need to encourage more youngsters to take up traditional art forms like Chavittunatakam.
In a keenly-fought band competition, reigning champion St. Jude’s English Medium High School, Karanakkodam, emerged the winners in the high school category. Vidyadhiraja Vidya Bhavan EMHS, Aluva, was the runner-up.
Eight teams fought hard to reach the top by trying to infuse variety in marching, formation and dress code. In the higher secondary category, Mary Matha Public School, Thrikkakara, bagged the first position followed by SNMHSS, Muthakunnam. The drawing competition held at the Government Boy’s Higher Secondary School saw creativity at its best.
Children plucking flowers from the garden was the theme for the upper primary section while participants in the high school category worked on the idea of wayside vendors. The theme for the higher secondary students was tourists enjoying a holiday. Even though day one of the fest was relatively free of the usual delays and confusions, most venues failed to attract the local population.
The organisers said that public participation would go up from Tuesday onwards when dance and stage events will be held in various venues. Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, mimicry and drama are scheduled for Tuesday.
