Representational image of Kohima

The opening ceremony of the State Level Youth Festival under the banner of Youth and Adolescent Development got off to a colourful star at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima on Friday.

The event is being organised by the Department of Youth Resources and Sports, Nagaland.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Department of Youth Resources and Sports, Anenla S Longchari said the festival is not all about winning but participation and meeting different people, witnessing various talents and being inspired to set goals

The Youth Festival was first organised in 1995 to remember the contributions of Swami Vivekananda. Since then the Ministry of Home Affairs & Sports, Government of India, has been organising the event to bring the youths of the country together, Longchari stated.

Winners at the district level will represent the district at the state level while the winners at the state level will represent the state at national level, she added.

However, Longchari said the department has not been organising the programme at the district level due to fund constraints.

“Many of our youngsters are very talented, but we do not have the avenue for outlet of the talents,” she lamented while maintaining that the event is an effort of the department to provide a small outlet for talents of the youths.