School youth festivals should celebrate humanism and harmony of hearts, Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran has said. He was inaugurating the 54 Revenue district school arts festival at the JDT Islam Higher Secondary School at Vellimadukunnu here on Tuesday. Emphasising on the cleansing power of art and culture, Mr. Ramachandran said that every cultural festival gave out the message of a better world entrenched in humanism and harmony.
Real talents in the country were going unnoticed in the absence of proper platforms, the Minister said. Many cultural icons, including noted singers K.J. Yesudas and P. Jayachandran, were the finds of school youth festivals.
Mr. Ramachandran said parents, organisers, and participants should not make the event an occasion to flaunt their affluence, but an opportunity to showcase their talent. Parents must not interfere too much with the competitions, he added.
Mayor A.K. Premajam presided over the function. Writers, cultural and political leaders, including K.P. Ramanunni, V.R. Sudheesh, Purushan Kadalundi, and A.K. Saseendran, attended the function.
Cultural processionA cultural procession was taken out from the Silver Hills Public School, Malaparamba, around 4.30 p.m. Band troops, NCC, Scout and Guides, ornamental umbrellas and traditional art forms including Theyyam were part of the procession, which reached the festival venue at 5.30 p.m.
