30 J&K artists selected for 28th National Youth Festival

The youth of Jammu and Kashmir possesses tremendous talent which needs to be explored at the grass-root level by ensuring quality education to them coupled with high moral values and ethical standards.

This was stated by Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez, while addressing the concluding ceremony of Inter-Division UT level competition for 28th National Youth Festival 2024-25.

Sarmad Hafeez was accompanied by Director General Youth Services and Sports, Rajinder Singh Tara and other officers of the department.

The Secretary said that the youth of present era is dynamic and energetic adding the only need is to channelize their energy in the right direction while guiding them to live a healthy lifestyle away from drug abuse and other social ills.

Sarmad Hafeez thanked the department for providing him an opportunity to witness a wonderful display of art and culture and lavished praise on the organisers, parents, teachers and trainers for guiding them to do wonderfully well, thus making the event a grand success.

While congratulating the selected artists/students, the Secretary said that participating in the upcoming 28th National Youth Festival in the benign presence of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi would be a dream come true for them. He said through such competitions, the government aims to empower youth with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become leaders and change-makers in their communities.

Sarmad Hafeez further said that such festive activities apart from helping the youth not to fall prey to social evils, helps them to exchange culture, make friends and learn new languages.

Earlier, Deputy Director Youth Services and Sports Central, Jitendra Mishra, presented the welcome address and threw light on the significance of the day. He said the festival aims to identify and nurture young talent, providing a platform to share their ideas for Viksit Bharat.

Meanwhile, 30 artists/students who enthralled the audience with their beautiful presentations, have been selected for taking part in the 28th National Youth Festival to be held at New Delhi on January 11 and January 12, 2025, with 10 in Folk Song, 10 in Folk Dance and 2 each in Painting, Poetry, Thematic, Story Writing and Declamation.

Prominent among others present on the occasion were Ved Prakash, Joint Director Youth Services and Sports Jammu and an expert panel of adjudicators.