Students perform at the fest in Bokaro on Wednesday. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, Sept. 9: Dreams and ambitions that only the young can hope to fulfil found expression at the three-day 16th Bokaro Youth Festival of Vinoba Bhave University that came to an end yesterday with Guru Nanak College, Dhanbad, taking away the winner’s trophy while St. Columba’s College, Hazaribagh, came runners-up.

For three days Kala Kendra at Sector II was abuzz with activity with over 600 students from various colleges competing in events ranging from music, arts and theatre to literature and mime. But what was noteworthy was the atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie that prevailed throughout.

Among other colleges that took part were SSLNT College, Dhanbad; K.B. Women’s College, Hazaribagh; Chatra College; P.K.R.M. College, Dhanbad; Ananda College, Hazaribagh; Ramgarh College; Markham College, Hazaribagh; Chas College; Ranvijay College, Bokaro; City College, Bokaro and hosts, Vishthapit College. The festival was inaugurated on September 6 by Bokaro Steel Plant managing director Shashi Shekhar Mohanty, Aurangabad MP Sushil Singh and Bokaro MLA Samresh Singh.

From then on there was no stopping students with the competitions taking over. The events, spread over the whole day, were held in various fields including music, fine arts, dance and literature.

On the first day, it was the turn of classical, semi-classical vocal, light vocal solo, western vocal, group song — both Indian and western and classical dance. The next day saw competitions in mimicry, mime and one-act, while poster making, clay modelling and cartoon making took up the last day. Students of several colleges also took part in “on-the-spot” painting, photography, rangoli and folk dances.

Guru Nanak College, Dhanbad, won 15 out of 23 events, while St. Columba won eight events. Prizes were given out by Bokaro Steel Plant executive director Ravindra Singh and coal belt DIG U.K Singh.

Shubhra Ghoshal of Guru Nanak College, who was declared best semi-classical singer, she could not have hoped for a better time. “It didn’t matter which college I belonged to. The audience simply cheered for me, which touched my heart,” she said.

Mithilesh Kumar of St. Columba College, who also bagged an individual award for her painting, said before coming to Bokaro he wasn’t sure of the kind the welcome he would get.

“But, reaching here I did not feel I was away from home. The three days were like a picnic with round-the-clock entertainment,” he added.