Kochi: The 15th State CBSE Youth Festival will begin at the Sree Sarada Vidyalaya, Kalady, on November 24. Film actor Navya Nair will inaugurate the youth festival. Adi Shankara Managing Trustee K Anand will light 15 lamps on the dais on the occasion, symbolising the conduct of the 15th state CBSE youth festival.

The function will be presided over by CBSE School Management Association president TPM Ibrahim Khan. The CBSE School Management Association general secretary P S Ramachandran Pillai, MLAs Roji M John, Anwar Sadath, CIAL MD S Suhas, general convener of the youth festival Deepa Chandran, Confederation of Kerala Sahodaya Complex office-bearers Fr Sijan Paul Oonnukallel, Joji Paul and Dinesh Babu, Ernakulam district panchayat president Ullas Thomas, Angamaly block panchayat president Kochu Thresia Thankachan, Kalady gram panchayat president Shaijan Thottappally among others will be present.

A reception committee has been formed with Minister P Rajeev and Adi Sankara Trust managing trustee K Anand as the chief patrons for the smooth conduct of the youth festival. State Film Award winner Rajeesha Vijayan will inaugurate the valedictory function to be held on November 26. Benny Behanan MP chairs the panel.

Ahead of the youth festival, a proclamation procession will be held in Kalady on November 22. The three-day festival will be organised in full compliance with the green protocol. The competition will be held in 140 events across 25 venues. Apart from Sree Sarada Vidyalaya, Adi Sankara BEd Training College, Sree Sankara College and Adi Sankara Engineering College will also be the venues for the competition. Around 10,000 talents will be participating in the youth festival.

All preparations for the youth festival have been completed, said chief patron K Anand and youth festival general convener Dr Deepa Chandran. The events will be held from 8 am to 9 pm.

The vehicles coming for the fest from Mattur to the venue will have parking at the Adi Sankara Engineering College ground. A facility has been arranged for VIP vehicles to park at the B-VOC ground adjacent to the school. Vehicles coming from Mattur should enter MC Road via Marottichode and then go to Kalady and Angamaly areas.

Pazhayidom Namboothiri is preparing food for the contestants and guests attending the youth festival. It is estimated that food will be served to more than 75,000 people in three days.  Pazhayidom had earlier announced that he wouldn’t cook for the state school youth festivals. But by preparing food for this youth festival, he is returning to the kitchen of the state youth festival. For three days Pazhayidom will prepare a sumptuous feast having payasam.