State Youth Festival to be held from December 23 to 25, 3,100 youths to participate

Talents to be showcased in 14 categories; winners to get a chance to participate in National Youth Festival

Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao unveils poster of State Youth Festival

Competitions and events explained in press conference

Raipur, December 2025 : The State Youth Festival-2025 will be held in Bilaspur, the judicial capital, from December 23 to 25, with 3,100 young participants. The event is being organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare at the State Sports Training Centre, Bahatarai. Winners of the district-level youth festivals will showcase their talents in 14 categories at the state level. Winners of the State Youth Festival will represent Chhattisgarh in the National Youth Festival next year. At the opening ceremony on December 23, the launch of the first Khelo India Tribal Games, to be hosted by Chhattisgarh, will also take place. Various cultural and stage events will be organised during the three-day festival.

Deputy Chief Minister and Sports & Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao shared details of the festival’s competitions and programmes in a press conference held at his Nava Raipur residence office, where he also unveiled the festival poster. Chairman of the State Youth Commission Vishw Vijay Singh Tomar, Secretary of the Sports & Youth Welfare Department Yashwant Kumar, and Director Tanuja Salam were present.

Sao stated that the Youth Festival is being organised at district and state levels by the Sports & Youth Welfare Department in alignment with the National Youth Festival-2026, to engage youth in cultural activities, enhance their talents, and provide a platform for national-level exposure. District-level festivals were held across all districts from November 24 to December 15. Winners in 14 categories from district-level events will now participate in the State Youth Festival.

There will be competitions in 14 categories at the State Youth Festival: eight group events and six individual events. Group events include folk dance, Panthi dance, Raut Nacha, Sua dance, Karma dance, folk singing, rock band, and one-act play. Individual events include debate, story writing, painting, poetry writing, innovation (science fair), and traditional attire.

Participants securing first place in group events will receive ₹20,000, second place ₹15,000, and third place ₹10,000. In individual events, the first, second, and third prize winners will receive ₹5,000, ₹3,000, and ₹2,000 respectively. Every participant will receive ₹1,000 as an incentive. Winners in five cultural categories—folk dance, folk singing, debate, painting, and poetry writing—will represent Chhattisgarh at the National Youth Festival-2026 to be held in New Delhi.

Several renowned artists will perform during the festival, including musical bands and poetry recitations. On December 23, from 5 pm to 8 pm at the State Sports Training Centre Bahatarai, there will be a performance by Arug Band (led by Anuj Sharma) and a display of Mallakhamba by artists from Narayanpur. On the same night at 8:30 pm, a poetry event will be held at Bilaspur Police Ground featuring renowned poet Dr. Kumar Vishwas and others.

On December 24, Kafila Band and Swapnil Live Band will perform at the State Sports Training Centre Bahatarai from 6 pm onwards. On December 25, there will be performances by Aru Sahu and Dayra (Bastar) Band from 6 pm. The closing ceremony will include prize distribution. Assistant Director Rashmi Thakur and several departmental officials were also present at the press conference.