Stage events brought vibrancy and verve to festival venues on day two of the Kozhikode Revenue District School Arts Festival at JDT Islam Higher Secondary School. Students performing Bharatanatyam, Ottanthullal, Thiruvathira and mono act held the audience in rapt attention and the festival mood was kicked up a few notches.
Announcing the formal inauguration of the five-day festival, Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran on Thursday said it was the first time that school festivals in Kerala had received such a generous financial aid from the State government. “For hosting district-level events, the government altogether sanctioned ₹3 crore, which was a great move to promote extra-curricular activities of students,” he said.
Cultural scenario
The Minister said the government had taken special efforts to improve the cultural scenario in the State and to erect memorials for eminent cultural icons. Such efforts were visible in the planning and implementation of school festivals.
Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan, who distributed the best Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) awards at the inaugural function, said, “We have a huge responsibility to fight the incidence of drug abuse among youngsters and to adopt appropriate corrective measures.”
Mr. Ramakrishnan stressed the need to promote Malayalam among young learners.
“The overdependence on unaided schools for English learning is changing with government and aided schools providing more facilities. We should inculcate a culture of learning other languages while respecting the mother tongue,” he added.
Ahead of the formal inaugural ceremony chaired by Mayor Thottathil Raveendran, a procession was taken out to the main festival venue with the participation of students from various educational sub districts. National Cadet Corps, Student Police Cadets and various other volunteer groups took part in the procession. A welcome song rendered by music teachers from various schools greeted the participants of the procession at the main venue.
