Alappuzha: Palakkad emerged as winners at the 59th Kerala State School Arts Festival that concluded on Sunday, ending Kozhikode's decade-long victory streak.

As the curtains came down on the three-day extravaganza of art, Palakkad topped the points table with 930 points pushing defending champions Kozhikode to second spot with 927 points. With 903 points, Thrissur is at the third sport.

It was a nail-biting finish as the Kalolsavam competitions stretched up till early Monday morning. As many as 8,935 students competed for prizes in 188 items staged at 29 venues.

Though the Kerala government initially decided not to conduct the art festival this year after the state was ravaged by the August floods, the authorities later agreed upon holding a low-key event as it concerns the future of several talented students who set to gain from grace marks for participating.

The fest was held from December 7-9. The next year's school arts festival will be held in Kasaragod.

Points table

Palakkad: 930, Kozhikode: 927. Thrissur: 903, Kannur: 901, Malappuram: 895, Ernakulam: 886, Alappuzha: 870, Kollam: 862, Thiruvananthapuram: 858, Kasaragod: 839, Wayanad: 834, Kottayam: 829, Pathanamthitta: 770. Idukki: 706.

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