City decked up for Youth Festival

BHUBANESWAR: Like a bride ready for the wedding, Bhubaneswar wears a gorgeous look since Thursday evening. And aptly so to welcome the huge congregation of the future citizens of the Nation who have arrived in the City of Temples for the five-day National Youth Festival that kicked off on Friday.

Buildings have been illuminated and roads have been cleaned. The 14 venues across the city – the auditoria where several cultural events would be staged – have been decently decorated. The State government has left no stone unturned to extend a warm hospitality to the delegates. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has taken personal care to ensure that each of the young visitors to the State who have formed a mini-India here get a feel of Orissa’s hospitality, heritage, tradition, cuisine and culture.

All roads led to the Kalinga Stadium, the venue for the inauguration of the mega event, on Friday afternoon where the city folks including a large chunk of school students witnessed the spectacular ceremony spanning over five hours along with the delegates coming from all corners of the country and the dignitaries.

As soon as flower petals were showered over the stadium from a helicopter that carried the logo of the event, a nine-member team from the Indian Air Force dived from an aeroplane exhibiting the Akash Ganga formation before they landed on the stadium ground. And then came the dare devil show by the Indian Army. The jawans of the Punjab Regiment spilled the thrill on the spectators with their incredible skills of risky-riding of motor-bikes.

The march past of the contingents representing all the states and union territories that followed gave glimpses of the cultural diversity of the country. The young brigades briefly displayed the arts traditions of their respective regions with enthusiasm. Host Orissa’s special presentation of its own dance styles – Odissi, Paika, Ranapa and Gotipua – was a feast for the eyes of the visitors while the laser show hooked the audience to their chairs.

At the Exhibition Grounds, an exhibition of Orissa’s handicrafts, the Oriya food festival and the sand art show added attraction for the delegates. And the evening was filled with thrill with rock band concert at the KIIT Campus where the delegates have been put up.