64th Kerala School Festival Kicks Off in Thrissur; 15,000 Students Participate

Thrissur: Amidst festive cheers and applause, the 64th Kerala School Arts Festival commenced in Thrissur. The festival was officially inaugurated at 10 AM on the main stage, Suryakanthi, by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Over the next five days, the city of Thrissur will resonate with the energy and enthusiasm of thousands of students showcasing their talents. The cultural vibrancy of the festival has already created excitement for both participants and visitors.

Education Minister V Sivankutty presided over the ceremony, while Revenue Minister K Rajan delivered the welcome address. Other dignitaries present included Higher Education & Social Justice Minister Dr. R. Bindu, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, various state ministers, MLAs, the Mayor, District Panchayat President, District Collector, and the City Police Commissioner. The popular actor Riya Shibu, who charmed audiences as "Delulu" in the film Sarvam Maya, was the chief guest.

The festival, running from January 14 to 18, features participation from around 15,000 students across 249 events held on 25 stages. The Exhibition Ground in Thekkinkad serves as the main venue. All stages have been named after fragrant flowers across different categories, symbolizing the festival’s theme of “Responsible Arts Festival”.

Safety and convenience arrangements have been made across all venues, including ambulances, drinking water, and sanitation facilities. Accommodation has been arranged in 20 schools around the city, with police monitoring in place at all locations.

The 117.5-sovereign gold trophy, which started its journey from Mogral GVHSS, Kasaragod, made its way through reception tours in various districts and arrived in Thrissur on Monday. The trophy will be awarded to the district team scoring the highest points in the festival. Students are geared up for intense competitions on every stage, promising a spectacular celebration of talent and culture.

The festival has officially begun—let the show begin!