Thrissur Sahodaya are champions of CBSE fest

Vazhakulam (Ernakulam): Thrissur Sahodaya has emerged as champion of four day-long CBSE State Kalotsav at Vazhakulam near Muvattupuzha on Sunday. It secured 1,780 points and Malabar Sahodaya trailed at second position with 1,570 points.

Central Kerala Sahodaya and Palakkad Sahodaya secured third and fourth positions with 1,350 and 1,259 points respectively.

Kollam Sahodaya made it to fifth position with 1,225 points.

Kozhikode Silver Hills Public School bagged the overall champion trophy with 493 points. Devamatha CMP Public School, Thrissur, and Devagiri CMI Public School, Kozhikode, secured second and third positions with 411 and 373 points respectively. Kanhangad Christ CMI Public School and Vadakkevila Sree Narayana Public School secured fourth and fifth positions respectively.

On the last day on Sunday, issues that hogged the limelight in Kerala in recent times were symbolised in mime competition where around 25 teams took part. Thrissur Sahodaya secured first position in all the five categories.

Some students from S N Vidya Bhavan, Chentrappini, suffered injuries in legs after they stepped onto the nails that fell from their ornaments during Thiruvathirakali; but they continued to perform despite the injuries.

Muhammed Rumais, a Class 10 student from Mount Seena Public School, Palakkad, participated in Kolkali with an injured hand and helped his team in winning the first prize.

Actor Jagadeesh inaugurated valedictory function. “School festivals help in shaping citizens for the future and support children to face adversities in life. All the participants in the festival are winners,” Jagadeesh said.

Dean Kuriakose MP said no state in India conducts a school festival as successful as Kerala.

Around 8,000 students from 1,400 CBSE schools participated in 144 events across five categories, held in 21 venues during the festival. As many as 400 judges assessed the performance of students.

Judges upset by choice of

sexual abuse theme

With incidents of child abuse on the rise and media reports about them being a daily affair, it is natural that the concerns get reflected in art events such as mono act where socially relevant themes are highly valued. But the choice of several young participants in the upper primary category to select sexual abuse as the theme did not go well with the judges.

“The sexual abuse theme should be used by high school and higher secondary students. Allowing children in upper primary level to perform mono act with sexual abuse theme is not wise,” said Nooranad Suku, one of the judges.

The judges were also critical of participants who mimic performance available on YouTube and other social media spaces. “It does not matter if you are unable to make it to the top place but imitating performance by others will not take you anywhere,” said Kalabhavan Shameer, one of the judges.

At the concluding day of the CBSE school festival in Vazhakulam on Sunday, Sana A, a Class VI student from Malappuram Sahodaya, bagged the first prize in mono act. “She is an asset,” said Suku. Sana bagged the award for her mesmerizing performance themed ‘childhood in the street.’