Kochi: Thiruvananthapuram will host this year’s Kerala School Kalolsavam from December 3 to 7. The 63rd edition of the art and cultural festival of students in schools following the Kerala state syllabus will take place at 24 venues in the district, said Minister for General Education V Sivankutty. Along with the Kalolsavam, Samskritolsavam (Sanskrit festival) and Arabic Sahityolsavam (Arabic literary festival) will also be organized, added the minister.

The Kalolsavam is returning to Thiruvananthapuram after an interval of nine years; the district had previously conducted the event in 2015.

Sivankutty also announced that this year’s State School Kayikolsavam – the sports meet – will be conducted in an ‘Olympics model’. The event, titled ‘Kerala School Olympics 24’, will be organized in Kochi from November 4 to 11.

Massive event
The school Kalolsavam began as a low-key program back in 1957 at Government Girls High School in Ernakulam, where the 18 competitions in 12 events took place in a few classrooms. In contrast, the upcoming Kalolsavam in Thiruvananthapuram will have 97 events in the high school category, 105 in higher secondary, and 19 each in Samskritolsavam and Arabic Sahityolsavam. A total of around 14,000 students will compete in these 240 events.

“The main stage will come up at Putharikandam Maidan in East Fort as contests there attract an audience of around 15,000 people,” said the minister. University Senate Hall, Nishagandhi auditorium, Ayyankali Hall, Tagore Hall, and various schools in the city limits will be the other venues, he added. Food will be served at Police Ground, Thycaud or Central Stadium.

“This year’s Kalolsavam, which is Asia’s biggest arts and cultural festival, will be conducted based on the revised manual. All students who secure an ‘A’ grade will receive a one-time scholarship of Rs 1,000,” said Sivankutty.

Around 350 eminent personalities, belonging to Kerala as well as other parts of India, will judge the events. Disputes regarding results will be settled by a state-level appeal committee. Sub-committees will be constituted by recognized unions of teachers for the smooth conduct of the festival.

Prior to the Kalolsavam, school-level competitions will take place in September, sub-district events by the second week of October, and district-level contests in the first week of November.

Sports meet
Kerala will be the first state in India to conduct the school sports meet in an ‘Olympics model’, said the minister. Moreover, ‘inclusive sports’ will be introduced at the state school sport this year for children with special needs.

“Around 24,000 students will compete in 41 events in three categories – under-14, 17, and 19 – at the sports meet. Competitions will take place over seven days during the day as well as night,” said Sivankutty.

“Over 15,000 competitions will be conducted in Kerala School Olympics, making it the world’s biggest sports event for teens,” he said.

Meanwhile, special assemblies were organized in schools across the state on Saturday morning heralding the Paris Olympics. An Olympics torch was also lit in schools, followed by the reading of the Olympics message by the minister.