59th edition of Kerala youth fest begins today

ALAPPUZHA: The Venice of the East is all set to host the 59th State School Youth Festival, from Friday, where as many as 12,000 participants from schools across the state will compete for glory in around 300 events.
Director of Public Instruction, K V Mohan Kumar, who is the general coordinator of the fest will hoist the flag at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Alappuzha.The three-day festival will officially begin at 8.45am with the lighting of 59 lamps by when 59 students at Leo XIII Higher Secondary School, the main venue.
There will be no special opening and closing ceremonies or procession, in an attempt do away with the usual pomp and grandeur in the wake of the devastating floods that battered the state.
The competitions, to be held at 30 venues across Alappuzha town, will begin by 9am. The venues are named after literary works.
Food been arranged at the large kitchen built at EMS Stadium under the supervision of renowned chef Pazhayidom Mohanan Nambudiri. “For the first time in the history of the state youth fest, food will be served through buffet system,” said Nambudiri. Drinking water will be available at all venues. District police chief, S Surendran, said around 1,200 police personnel have been deployed at the venues.