BHUBANESWAR: After five days of enticing, attracting and enchanting Bhubaneswar, the 15th edition of the National Youth Festival drew to a close here on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared the NYF 2010 closed at a glittering ceremony marked by the spectacular aerobatics show by the Surya Kiran team and the para-divers of the Indian Air Force along with a cultural parade by the participating states and Union Territories.
Patnaik observed that the grand scale of the festival was an experience by itself for both the participants and the people of the State. The overwhelming response to the event in the city was unbelievable. Today being the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and celebrated as National Youth Day, the youth gathered here would be inspired to follow the path laid by him, he hoped.
The closing ceremony was in fact a compendium of the events that had held sway over the populace of the Capital City for the last few days.
Matching the colour, fun and gaiety of the inaugural function, the concluding function went into motion with the six-aircraft unit of Surya Kiran zipping over the Kalinga Stadium in their formations. It was followed by the para- divers of the Indian Air Force making the Akash Ganga formation and landing with precision on the stadium ground.
The jam-packed stadium gave standing ovation to the participating states and Union Territories as they went round the tracks in a cultural marchpast in traditional attire, presenting their folk dances.
Top world pugilist and Beijing Olympics 2008 bronze medallist Vijendra Singh urged the youths to harness their energy in the positive direction not only to achieve their goals in life but also to contribute significantly to the betterment of society.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Pratik Prakashbapu Patil commended the spirit and the enthusiasm of the people of Orissa that made the NYF 2010 a grand success.
“The participants, who had come from across the country would take back memories that will linger forever,” he remarked.
Naveen Patnaik and Patil distributed prizes to the winners of the competitions in 18 disciplines from classical and folk dances, vocal and instrumental music as well as drama and elocution. Orissa won prizes in six of the disciplines, adjudged first in folk dance, harmonium and flute, second in Odissi dance and guitar, and third in sitar.
The Indian Navy ushered in the close by Beating the Retreat and Gori, the mascot, was given a fond farewell.
The closing function also saw performance of `Sare Jahanse Achcha’ by Orissa’s pride Prince Dance Group as well as a Malkhamba and Chhau dance presentation.
Among others, State Minister for Sports and Youth Services Praveen Chandra Bhanj Deo and Secretary of Sports and Youth Services Department PK Mohapatra spoke.