Music and dance mark second day of youth festival

BHUBANESWAR - Folk dances, classical music, dramas and a series of other performances by artists from across the country enthralled a huge crowd on the second day of the National Youth Festival here Saturday.

Competitions in various instrumental, classical and other events to select the best talent of the country were held in different theatres and open stages throughout the day.

The performances that thrilled the spectators include Bharatnatyam, Manipuri dance and the Rock Band dance.

Unprecedented gathering were observed at Kalinga stadium, the main venue of the festival in the evening to see the performance of Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans.

At least 4,000 youth from all over the country are competing in about 17 categories of cultural competitions in classical, semi-classical and folk arts during the five-day 15th edition of National Youth Festival which began here Friday. The festival is organised every year in January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda Jan 12.

Gori, a 34-year-old rare white crocodile, which was reared and bred in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary in the state’s Kendrapada district, has been made the mascot of the festival to promote wildlife conservation.