Bhubaneswar: The State Youth Festival–2025, showcasing the creativity, talent and youthful energy of Odisha, concluded on a high note today at the Kalinga Stadium.
Organised over three days from December 24, the festival brought together young talents from across the state, providing a vibrant platform for artistic, literary and scientific expression.
Youth participants from different districts competed in a wide range of events, including poetry writing, speech, short story writing, painting, science exhibition, folk music and folk dance. The festival not only highlighted the diverse talents of Odisha’s youth but also encouraged innovation, leadership and cultural pride.
The winners of the State Youth Festival–2025 will represent Odisha at the forthcoming “Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue” to be held in New Delhi, offering them an opportunity to showcase their abilities at the national level.
Three winners each were selected in poetry writing, speech, short story writing and painting, while five young innovators were chosen from the science fair category. In the cultural segment, three folk music groups and three folk dance troupes were selected for their outstanding performances. All the winners will represent odisha at “Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue” which will be held in New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Tourism Department, said that today’s youth are the architects of the future. He underlined that the youth are the cornerstone of a Vikshit Odisha and said that he is hopeful that the Youth festival’s award-winning participants would bring laurels to the state at the national stage.
Kali Prasanna Mahapatra, Director, Higher Education Department, who attended the programme as guest of honour, observed that the State Youth Festival has emerged as an important platform for identifying and nurturing young talent and bringing it to public attention.
The valedictory ceremony was also attended by Sachin Ramchandra Yadav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Sports and Youth Services Department, Yedula Vijay, Director of Sports & Youth Services Department, Bijay Kumar Swain, Additional Secretary, Ashok Kumar Panda, along with other senior officials. The dignitaries felicitated the winners of various competitions held during the festival, marking a memorable conclusion to the State Youth Festival–2025.
