Chande to open Unifest on Jan 22

NAGPUR: Chairman of Association of All India Universities (AIU) Pankaj Chande will inaugurate the 27th Inter-university National Youth Festival (Unifest) on Monday. AIU general secretary ADN Bajpayee would be the chief guest at the event while Marathi cine star Pratiksha Lonkar lend the glamour quotient.
This is the third time NU is getting a chance to host the prestigious event where over 900 students from all over the country participate.They will vie for honours in as many as 24 events, including mime, folk orchestra, classical dance, group singing, skit, mimicry, quiz and cultural programmes among others. NU had last hosted the festival in 2000. Nearly 67 teams from various universities across the country would participate in the four-day cultural meet.
Addressing media persons, vice chancellor Vilas Sapkal said that preparation were in full swing to host the event. All events would be at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall and SCZCC, while lodging and boarding of participants would be at MLA hostel. This cultural extravaganza is held every year in different states in collaboration with Government of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports along with Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Officials added that ever since the National Youth Festival was conceptualized in 1985, Nagpur has remained one of the favourite destinations, not only for its near-perfect hosting, but also due to its central location, which ensures good rail, road and air connectivity.
Deliberating on the objective, officials said the idea was to promote national integrity among youth. “Youth participate in the spirit of competition but by the end of the festival they disperse as members of one single family. Principles of fraternity, equality, integrity and unity flow among participating students,” officials said.
They added that it provides an ideal opportunity for fostering friendship and brotherhood among participants from all over the country.