Mini-India in Rohtak as National Youth Festival begins

Mini-India in Rohtak as National Youth Festival begins Rohtak, Jan 12 (PTI) Over 5,000 youths from across the country gathered here as the National Youth Festival began today celebrating the 154th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The inauguration ceremony was a reflection of Indias much-celebrated diversity as youths from all states and Union Territories marched past the dignitaries in

outfits, performing arts representing their states traditions. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the 21st edition of the five-day festival at Maharshi Dayanand University. He said a training programme for cashless transactions will be organised during the festival.

Youths from Haryana and other states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala Punjab, and UT Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Chandigarh performed traditional songs and dances as the audience cheered them up.

This years theme is Digital Yuva Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the gathering through video conference. In his address, he exhorted youths to take up and popularise digital transactions.

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Vijay Goel administered a pledge to the youths to take up cashless transactions.

Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij was also present on the occasion but Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was to attend the programme as the chief guest, did not come.

During the inauguration ceremony, there was a slight technical glitch while the national song was being played. The song stopped midway leaving Vij visibly upset. He was seen reluctantly leaving the stage after all other dignitaries came down.