Nashik, January 8, 2024: Maharashtra Chief Minister Shr. Eknath Shinde wants the 27th National Youth Festival (NYF) to be organized in Nashik city, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi on Friday (January 12, 2024), to be exploited as a showcase of Nashik and Maharashtra’s cultural traditions in a global branding effort. “We must all seize the opportunity for this purpose,” Shri. Eknath Shinde said this here today through a public appeal.

The Chief Minister was speaking during a review meeting held over the planning for the festival after he had inspected the inaugural venue at Tapovan Maidan for the National Youth Festival. Also present on the occasion were Minister of the State Public Works department and District Guardian Minister of Nashik Dadaji Bhuse among other dignitaries.

Chief Minister Shri. Shinde further noted, “The main inaugural program of the 27th National Youth Festival to be held in Nashik will be housed on the Tapovan Maidan where most of the meetings have been scheduled. Twenty committees were formed to laser focus all the aspects related to this festival. The mascot and logo for NYF has also been unveiled. About 8000 youth hailing from different parts of the country are expected to participate in the festival. Instructions have been explicitly issued to ensure there is no shortage of accommodation and catering facilities during the festival.”

The NYF will feature a Suvichar (good thoughts) competition, youth meetings and cultural programs to be held at Hanuman Nagar. Folk dances, individual folk songs and elocution competitions will also be held at the Mahatma Kalidas Kalamandir, while a photography competition will be held at the Mahatma Phule Kaladalan.  The Raosaheb Thorat Auditorium located on Gangapur Road will feature group folk songs and individual folk singing performances while the Udoji Maharaj Museum, Young Artist Camp, poster making and story writing contests will also be held at various other venues.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri. Eknath Shinde further said, “An attempt is being made on a large scale to provide a big platform to youth through this festival. Along with many activities aimed at branding Nashik city during the festival, public sites are being decorated at various places in the city along with wall paintings and lighting to be done through the participation of local youth. Along with this, more emphasis will be given to cleanliness in the city. The district administration has made good progress in this regard and there is no doubt that this youth festival will be an unforgettable experience through the all-out efforts by the entire state machinery.”