The district schools arts festival got off with a colourful start at the MS Higher Secondary School at Ranni on Monday.
Inaugurating the four-day arts fete, Raju Abraham, MLA, said arts festivals would help the children strengthen their self-confidence by acquiring artistic talents.
Kerala Folklore Academy chairman C.J. Kuttappan, inaugurated the cultural contests. District panchayat president Annapoornadevi presided over the inaugural function.
Kuriakose Ivanios Metropolitan of the Knanaya Church delivered the benedictory speech.
Girija Madhu, block panchayat president; Roshan Roy Mathew, Kerala Public Service Commission member; M.G. Kannan, district panchayat member; Zacharia Stephen, SC HSS manager; Sasikala Rajashekharan, grama panchayat president, also spoke.
As many as 4,000 children representing various schools in the district are taking part in the competitions in different categories of upper primary, high school and higher secondary.
The first prize winners in various cultural contests held on Monday are:
High School
Bharatanatyam (Girls): Nandana Nair.S of NSS HSS, Thadiyur.
Light music (Boys): Sivaram.M of EM HS, Pandalam Kurampala.
Light music (Girls): Devapriya P.S of NSS GHS, Pandalam.
Elocution (English): Vismaya B. Baiju of St John’s HSS, Eraviperoor.
Recitation (English): Nikita Rachel Abraham of Gurukulam HS, Edakkulam.
Kavyakeli: Akshaya Aji of SC HSS , Ranni.
Vrindavadyam: Siyad Sajan of MGM HSS, Thiruvalla.
Band Melam: St Teresa’s Bethany Convent HSS, Chengaroor.
Margamkali (Girls): SVGV HSS, Kidangannur.
