Inter-college youth festival inaugurated at Gulbarga University

With actor Madan Patel flagging off a colourful cultural procession, the three-day inter-college youth festival began on a grand note at Gulbarga University here on Saturday.

With actor Madan Patel flagging off a colourful cultural procession, the three-day inter-college youth festival began on a grand note at Gulbarga University here on Saturday.

Hundreds of participants demonstrated diverse cultural performances throughout the procession to unfold the traditional practices of rural areas. The procession began at the Department of Zoology and ended at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan on the campus, where the stage programme was held.

Addressing the gathering at the auditorium, Mr. Patel appreciated the university’s efforts to nurture socio-cultural practices of rural India by organising such cultural festivals.

“Karnataka is home to diverse and rich folklore. People’s culture, language dialect, food habits and attire change after every 18 km. Gulbarga University has organised this youth fest to provide a platform for the youths to showcase such cultural varieties. This would help protect and nurture our cultural forms,” Mr. Patel said, calling upon the students to use the opportunity.

Expressing concerns over the decline of traditional performing arts, Mr. Patel stressed the need for special efforts to conserve our cultural past.

“Dance, singing, acting, drawing, painting and sports don’t get equal importance as compared to professional courses in the school and college levels. Parents discourage their children from opting for courses of cultural importance as they are sceptical about their children’s future in those courses. Such kind of mindset needs to be changed. We need to encourage children to bring out their hidden talents and provide them with a favourable environment for nurturing those talents,” he said.

Gulbarga University Vice-Chancellor Dayanand Agsar said that the youth fest would see different cultural and sport activities being simultaneously held in three parallel venues on the campus.