BANGALORE/MANGALORE: Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda launched ‘Yakshi,’ the mascot of the five-day 17th Edition of the National Youth Festival scheduled to be held in Mangalore from January 12, in Bangalore on Friday.
The Chief Minister said the state government which is hosting the event for the first time, has released Rs 10 crore for the successful organisation of the meet and the Union Government has released Rs 2 crore.
Inviting all to attend the event, the Chief Minister said that he had already held meetings with officials and reviewed the preparations. The event is being organised jointly by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, State Department of Youth Affairs, National Service Scheme and Nehru Yuvaka Sanghatane to celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
As many as 33 teams representing all the states and Union Territories would take part in the event which would for the first time have delegates from ASEAN and SAARC countries.
All the three wings of the Indian military and the Indian Coast Guard will take part in the festival which would bring the youth together to celebrate National Integration, spirit of communal harmony, brotherhood, courage and spirit of adventure.
Minister for Kannada and Culture Govind Karajol, Chief Secretary S V Ranganath, ACS K Jairaj and other senior officials were present on the occasion.