Youth festivals means of catharsis: Jora

 Srinagar, October 22 (Scoop News) –    Minister for Tourism and Culture, . Nawang Rigzin Jora who was the chief guest at the valedictory event of the week-long Kashmir University Youth Festival, Sonzal 2011 has said Kashmiri culture is assimilative and accommodative and the festivals like sonzal are symbolic of our multiculturalism and pluralism.

The festival was organized by Department of Students Welfare University of Kashmir, which concluded here today at convocation complex of the Kashmir University over 700 students of various colleges of Kashmir and Ladakh participated in the event and participated in various competitions during festival days.

The week long intra University Youth festival 4th in succession in the last four years was inaugurated by Governor, . N N Vohra on October 17th of this month.

            . Jora hoped the festival would go a long way to provide the much needed opportunity of utilizing the young minds in constructive and fruitful activities. Saying that he feels younger to be with students here and added that  sonzal like festivals  helps youth  to have catharsis  to  give vent to  their  pent up emotions  and talent .

The Minister appealed for peace on the occasion saying that all must work for bringing peace here, which, he said will fetch prosperity in turn. He said Kashmir University must emerge as a hub of cultural  and literary activities and it must through debates and discussions on issues which  address our social needs.

The minister threw a proposal to Kashmir University on the occasion where students of Kashmir University and affiliated colleges will be given a bigger platform so that they can represent themselves here and at the national level.

Vice Chancellor Kashmir University, Prof Talat Ahmad termed the outcome of the youth festival as highly satisfactory saying he was overwhelmed to see the talent of Kashmiri students. Our students are highly talented and we need to care about their talent and help them face the new challenges of life, he said.

Prof Talat Ahmad said that these events encourage our young students to contribute in creative fields and help them to grow and understand each other’s feelings and experiences about various aspects of the life. The events of such nature also help strength the bonds of brotherhood, friendship and unity among the student community.. He asked the student artists from the affiliated colleges to keep coming to KU campus and our faculty and other staff will be available for their growth and development.  He said he is happy to have student artists from Ladakh region participating in Sonzal 2011 and doing very well. VC told the students to spread like rainbow (sonzal) on the national scène and take their talent to all parts of the country.  He announced that next year KU will have Sonzal like mini festivals at colleges before we have a mega youth festival at the university.

Director Tourism Kashmir, . Farooq Ahmad Shah who was the guest of honour on the occasion said that creating platforms to give vent to the hidden and pent up talent of youth is the need of hour. “After seeing the talent of  the students  I am sure we have a progressive and prosperous future”, he said and added that tourism department would continue to collaborate with the Shieik-ul-Alam chair of the University of Kashmir in popularizing rich culture and heritage of Kashmir.  

He said the present festival is in tune with the me ”Linking cultures”  being  disseminated world over  this year to promote tourism and help in  link world cultures.

The Minister along with Vice Chancellor and Director Tourism later gave away awards to the winners of sonzal 2011 and awards of honour to judges for the event.

 In her welcome Prof. Nilofar Khan , Dean students Welfare while presenting the festival report said that about 30 events in various forms  of art, culture and literature were held which include Debate, Poetry Recitation, Elocution, Collage, Clay Modelling, Cartoon, Poster Makers Rangoli, Painting, Quiz, Light Vocal, Western Vocal, Classical Vocal, Semi Classical and Group Song etc . About 700 student artists from various affiliated collages of the university and various PG departments of university participated in the event.

Registrar Kashmir University Prof. Syed Fayaz, Prof A M Shah Dean academic affairs, Prof Bashar  Bashir Chairman Sheikul Alam Chair, Riyaz Rufai librarian , Prof S. Mufeed Director convocation Complex,  Dr Shahid Raool  Director EMC, Director were present besides students , scholars , members from civil  society were present on this occasion .