MANGALORE: The organisers of the 17th National Youth Festival confidently declared that they were all set to host the five-day festival in Mangalore in style.
Additional Chief Secretary K Jairaj told reporters here on Wednesday that the flow of participants was more than they had expected. Already 3,500 participants had registered for the festival, he said and added that arrangements were made to provide food to over 5,000 people, including volunteers.
Youth Services Department Principal Secretary I R Perumal said that barring three states, each state had sent not less than 100 participants to the Festival.
The Principal Secretary said that majority of youth were from rural areas.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner N S Channappa Gowda said participants from Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Megalaya are not participating in the event.
He said that 180 youth from SAARC will be arriving on Thursday. Channappa Gowda said prizes to winners will be announced and delivered at the valedictory ceremony. Yuva Chetana Awards will be presented at the inauguration, he added.
CM Gowda will inaugurate the festival, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs M Veerappa Moily and Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken will be present.