Ernakulam Maharaja’s College was ahead of its arch rival St. Teresa’s College when the results of seven competitions were announced at the Mahatma Gandhi University youth festival here on Thursday evening.
Maharaja’s College had won first prizes in Thiruvathira and Mimicry while St. Teresa’s could manage a second and third prize in two different competitions. UC College, Aluva, was giving a tough fight for both Maharaja’s and St. Teresa’s after it won two individual events (Elocution-Malayalam and Fancy Dress).
The second day of the fest was marked by delay in the conduct of the competitions and low audience turn-out at the venues. Except for Durbar Hall ground where the stage events got under way, vacant chairs welcomed participants at most of the other venues.
The popular fancy dress competition was delayed by three hours in the morning. The situation at Maharaja’s College ground was no different. Participants of the Bharatanatyam competition had a long wait, as the event could not take off as per the original schedule. Only a few people turned out to watch the performance.
The venue of the Elocution (Malayalam) competition was better in terms of audience response compared to the Maharaja’s College ground.
But the oratorical skills of the majority of the participants could not match the expectations as they lacked clarity while speaking on the theme of ‘Malayalam language and culture’. Neenu Rajeev of U.C. College, Aluva, won the first prize in the event. Arjun Raj J.V. of Maharaja’s College bagged the second prize while Soniya K.S of St. Teresa’s College came third.
The organisational hiccups continued on the second day when there was a change in one of the main venues. The events scheduled at St. Teresa’s College auditorium were shifted to the science block of the college. Many participants realised it only after reaching the main campus.
In the Bharatanatyam (male) competition, Vishnu Bhasi of Baselius College, Kottayam won the first prize. Sen Jansen T.F of Sacred Heart College, Thevara came second followed by Hemanth Lakshman of RLV College, Tripunithura.
Students of Maharaja’s College opened their point table after they won the Thiruvathira competition held on the inaugural day of the fest. M.E.S College at Marampally won the second place while the Bishop Chulaparambil Memorial College for Women at Kottayam and Sacred Heart College, Ernakulam, shared the third position.
In the Light Music (Male) event, Tansen Berny of St.Albert’s College, Ernakulam and Sarath Chandra Bose of RLV College, Tripunithura, shared the first prize. Tansen represents a musical family. He is the son of Berny of the popular music composer duo Berny-Ignatius. Libin Scariya of Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha and Devi Das B. of Baselius College, Kottayam won the second and third prizes respectively.
On Friday, Folk Dance, Skit, Monoact, Mohiniyattom, Light Music, Aksharaslogam, String (Eastern), Percussion (Eastern), Recitation (English), Elocution (English), Photography, Short Story, Essay Writing, Poetry, and Painting competitions will be held at various venues.
