Young talent shines at Himachal U-19 festival in Sirmaur

Perched in the serene foothills of Sirmaur, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Amboya, came alive with colour, music and cultural vibrance as Education Minister Rohit Thakur inaugurated the state-level Under-19 Boys and Girls Cultural Festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The event also witnessed the presence of former MLA of Paonta Sahib Kiranesh Jung, Civil Supplies Corporation Director Naseema Begum and Bhela Panchayat Pradhan Manish Tomar as special guests.

The five-day festival has drawn participation from 624 boys and as many girls representing various districts of Himachal Pradesh. The young participants will showcase their artistic flair across nine categories, including classical and light vocal music, group songs, folk dances, instrumental music, one-act plays and declamation contests.

Addressing the gathering, Rohit Thakur underscored that co-curricular and cultural activities are as vital as academics for the holistic growth of students. He lauded Himachal’s rich folk traditions, noting that they have earned global recognition and reflect the state’s unique cultural identity. Referring to the traditional Thoda performances — an ancient martial art integral to Bishu fairs in Sirmaur, Solan and Shimla — he announced that the sport has now been officially included in the Himachal Sports Organisation.

He announced that the government has sanctioned Rs 3 crore for national-level events and enhanced the diet allowance for student participants from Rs 150 to Rs 250.

In a major educational update, Thakur revealed that the first Kendriya Vidyalaya of Sirmaur district will soon be established at Haripur Tohana, with 80 bighas of land already earmarked for the project. He inspected the proposed site earlier in the day. He said 7,000 teachers have been appointed across various categories, while recruitment for over 9,000 posts, including TGTs, is underway.

Thakur said English-medium instruction has been introduced from Class I in all government schools and 100 senior secondary schools will soon be affiliated with CBSE. The minister felicitated 75 meritorious students of Amboya School for their outstanding results in Classes X and XII.