Kohima plays host to first North East Youth Festival India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

In a glittering ceremony held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium at Kohima today, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio declared the First North East Youth Festival open. In his inaugural speech, Rio said that success at the regional or national level is no longer excellence. He called on the youth from all over the country to strive to be the best globally, to reach out for international recognition to bring laurels to our people and glory to the country. Youth and creativity is the theme selected aptly for the event. Rio said that the theme is most appropriate for the present time and age as in the past two years, the entire world has undergone a time of crisis and economic melt-down. "This global recession has put forward several questions, many of which are yet to find complete answer. But, there is one definite answer that is bound to be accepted in every walk of life and that is creativity. Companies, governments and entrepreneurs are all looking for creativity and this new creativity will have to emerge from the imagination and the courage of the youth," he said. He urged upon the youth to follow the time honoured mantra of 3Ds that is Dedication, Discipline and Determination for success. About 1300 youth from all over the country including all the north eastern states are participating in the three-day event. Majority of the participants are active volunteers of the NYKS and the NSS. It is being jointly organised by the Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India and the Nagaland Government. The closing ceremony will be held on October 10. It will be graced by Agatha Sangma, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development.