News & Announcement
Young Talents Shine at District-Level Cultural Festival in Gangtok
Gangtok, November 5 (IPR): The District-Level Cultural Festival, organised as part of the National Youth Festival – Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VBYLD) 2026–27, was held today at the Deorali Senior Secondary School Auditorium, Gangtok. The Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sikkim, organised the event in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and the Sikkim Youth Development Board.
The festival provided a platform for young talents to showcase their creativity and abilities while promoting the preservation of the State’s rich cultural heritage, traditional art forms, folk dances and diverse cultural practices. It also sought to foster leadership, strengthen unity and mutual understanding among communities, and encourage a drug-free lifestyle among youth.
The programme was graced by the Chairperson, State Sports Development Board, Mr Rinzing Wangyal Chopel, as the Chief Guest, with Dronacharya Awardee and Boxing Coach, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Ms Sandhya Gurung, attending as the Special Guest.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Chopel urged students to stay away from drugs and encouraged them to pursue extracurricular activities such as sports, poetry writing, dancing, singing and painting. He emphasised that participation in such activities would help them remain active, creative and focused. He also invited students to visit his office and assured them of his full support. He concluded his address with a strong message urging students to say no to drugs.
Earlier, the Deputy Director-cum-District Nodal Officer, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Mr Norbu Tshering Bhutia, delivered the welcome address, outlining the objectives and significance of the festival. He highlighted that the initiative offers young participants an opportunity to advance to State- and National-level competitions. He also briefed the participants on the eligibility criteria and various competition categories, emphasising the programme’s role in supporting the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan through constructive youth engagement and awareness against drug abuse.
Held under the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”, the festival featured competitions in group folk dance, group folk song, Nukkad Natak (street play), painting and poetry writing.
The competitions were adjudicated by a panel comprising folk dancer, choreographer and cultural practitioner, Ms Dilu Tamang, for group folk dance; folk singer, Mr Narayan Rai, for group folk song; director and writer, Mr Deepak Dhakal, for Nukkad Natak; Professor, Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College, Tadong, Dr T.B. Chettri, for poetry writing; and Mr Y.N. Sapkota and Mr Krishna Raj Dulal for painting.
In the group folk dance category, Rabdong Tintek Block secured first place, followed by Tadong Senior Secondary School and West Point Senior Secondary School in second and third places, respectively. In group folk song, Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College, Tadong, secured first place, while Tadong Senior Secondary School and Rabdong Tintek Block secured the second and third positions.
In painting, Ms Aroma Rai of West Point Senior Secondary School secured first place, followed by Mr Youjal Ghataney of Tadong Senior Secondary School in second place and Mr Sakching Lepcha of PM SHRI Samdong Senior Secondary School in third place.
In poetry writing, Ms Roshni Subba of Tadong Senior Secondary School secured first place, while Ms Saniya Baigum of West Point Senior Secondary School and Mr Tshering Dorjee Sherpa of Enchey Senior Secondary School secured the second and third positions, respectively.
Among those present were Deputy Director -cum- State Nodal Officer, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Mr SB Subba; SDM, Gangtok, Mr Chandan Singh Subba; Principal, Deorali Senior Secondary School, Ms Anita Kafle; Deputy Director, MY Bharat, Sikkim, Mr Samsher Subedar; NSS Presidential Awardee 2022–23, Mr Arjun Pradhan; members of the jury; and teachers and students from various schools and colleges.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr Norbu Tshering Bhutia.
The festival provided a platform for young talents to showcase their creativity and abilities while promoting the preservation of the State’s rich cultural heritage, traditional art forms, folk dances and diverse cultural practices. It also sought to foster leadership, strengthen unity and mutual understanding among communities, and encourage a drug-free lifestyle among youth.
The programme was graced by the Chairperson, State Sports Development Board, Mr Rinzing Wangyal Chopel, as the Chief Guest, with Dronacharya Awardee and Boxing Coach, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Ms Sandhya Gurung, attending as the Special Guest.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Chopel urged students to stay away from drugs and encouraged them to pursue extracurricular activities such as sports, poetry writing, dancing, singing and painting. He emphasised that participation in such activities would help them remain active, creative and focused. He also invited students to visit his office and assured them of his full support. He concluded his address with a strong message urging students to say no to drugs.
Earlier, the Deputy Director-cum-District Nodal Officer, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Mr Norbu Tshering Bhutia, delivered the welcome address, outlining the objectives and significance of the festival. He highlighted that the initiative offers young participants an opportunity to advance to State- and National-level competitions. He also briefed the participants on the eligibility criteria and various competition categories, emphasising the programme’s role in supporting the Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan through constructive youth engagement and awareness against drug abuse.
Held under the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”, the festival featured competitions in group folk dance, group folk song, Nukkad Natak (street play), painting and poetry writing.
The competitions were adjudicated by a panel comprising folk dancer, choreographer and cultural practitioner, Ms Dilu Tamang, for group folk dance; folk singer, Mr Narayan Rai, for group folk song; director and writer, Mr Deepak Dhakal, for Nukkad Natak; Professor, Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College, Tadong, Dr T.B. Chettri, for poetry writing; and Mr Y.N. Sapkota and Mr Krishna Raj Dulal for painting.
In the group folk dance category, Rabdong Tintek Block secured first place, followed by Tadong Senior Secondary School and West Point Senior Secondary School in second and third places, respectively. In group folk song, Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government College, Tadong, secured first place, while Tadong Senior Secondary School and Rabdong Tintek Block secured the second and third positions.
In painting, Ms Aroma Rai of West Point Senior Secondary School secured first place, followed by Mr Youjal Ghataney of Tadong Senior Secondary School in second place and Mr Sakching Lepcha of PM SHRI Samdong Senior Secondary School in third place.
In poetry writing, Ms Roshni Subba of Tadong Senior Secondary School secured first place, while Ms Saniya Baigum of West Point Senior Secondary School and Mr Tshering Dorjee Sherpa of Enchey Senior Secondary School secured the second and third positions, respectively.
Among those present were Deputy Director -cum- State Nodal Officer, Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Mr SB Subba; SDM, Gangtok, Mr Chandan Singh Subba; Principal, Deorali Senior Secondary School, Ms Anita Kafle; Deputy Director, MY Bharat, Sikkim, Mr Samsher Subedar; NSS Presidential Awardee 2022–23, Mr Arjun Pradhan; members of the jury; and teachers and students from various schools and colleges.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr Norbu Tshering Bhutia.
