Maharashtra Selected for the Festival; Ensure Successful Organization – Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers Review Festival Preparations

Mumbai : Maharashtra has been given the opportunity to host the National Youth Festival with Nashik being selected as the venue. Ensure there are no shortcomings in its organization. Make this festival, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a grand success, directed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today. He also urged youth from across the state to actively participate in the event.

A review meeting regarding the preparations for the National Youth Festival was held at Sahyadri Guest House under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shinde. Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, Rural Development Minister Girish Mahajan, Sports Minister Sanjay Bansode, Chief Secretary Dr. Nitin Kareer, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Sports Department O.P. Gupta were present. Guardian Minister of Nashik, Dadaji Bhuse, and Divisional Commissioner Dr. Radhakrishna Game participated via video conferencing.

The festival aims to promote the overall development of youth, preserve culture and traditions, nurture hidden talents, and strengthen national integration. The central government has entrusted the responsibility of organizing this event to the state government. Consequently, the 27th National Youth Festival 2024 will be held in Nashik from January 12 to 16. Youth teams from all states and union territories of India will participate, and the Chief Minister emphasized ensuring its successful organization.

The festival will see participation from teams of 100 youth each from 28 states and 8 union territories, along with National Service Scheme (NSS) youth volunteers and Nehru Yuva Kendra Organization youth volunteers, amounting to approximately 8,000 participants. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the festival on January 12 at Tapovan Maidan in Nashik. The festival will feature competitive events such as cultural programs, skill development activities, and youth action initiatives, including group folk dances, folk songs, story writing, poster competitions, public speaking, photography, handicrafts, textiles, and agricultural products.

Various committees have been formed for the festival’s organization. These include a state-level committee chaired by the Chief Minister, a state-level executive committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, and an organizing committee chaired by the Divisional Commissioner. Departments such as Home, Finance, Revenue, Agriculture, Higher and Technical Education, Cultural Affairs, Tourism, and School Education are also involved, with instructions to coordinate efforts to ensure a successful festival, the Chief Minister stated.

During today’s meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed arrangements for accommodation, food, and event venues. Sports Commissioner Suhas Divase also presented details about the festival’s logo and slogan.