The Odisha State Youth Festival 2025, showcasing the creativity, talent, and youthful energy of Odisha, concluded on a high note today at Kalinga Stadium.
Held over three days from December 24, the festival brought together young talents from across the state, providing a vibrant platform for artistic, literary, and scientific expression.
Youth participants from various districts competed in a wide range of events, including poetry writing, speech, short story writing, painting, science exhibitions, folk music, and folk dance. The festival not only highlighted the diverse talents of Odisha’s youth but also encouraged innovation, leadership, and cultural pride.
The winners of the Odisha State Youth Festival 2025 will represent Odisha at the upcoming “Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue” in New Delhi, offering them an opportunity to showcase their abilities at the national level. Three winners were selected in each of the categories: poetry writing, speech, short story writing, and painting. Additionally, five young innovators were chosen from the science fair category. In the cultural segment, three folk music groups and three folk dance troupes were recognised for their outstanding performances. All the winners will represent Odisha at the “Viksit Bharat Youth Leadership Dialogue.”
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Balwant Singh, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Tourism Department, emphasised that today’s youth are the architects of the future. He underscored that young people are the cornerstone of a developed Odisha and expressed his hope that the award-winning participants from the Youth Festival would bring glory to the state on the national stage.
Kali Prasanna Mahapatra, Director of the Higher Education Department and the Guest of Honour, noted that the State Youth Festival has become an important platform for identifying and nurturing young talent and bringing it to public attention.
The valedictory ceremony was also attended by Sachin Ramchandra Yadav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Sports and Youth Services Department; Dr. Yedula Vijay, Director of the Sports and Youth Services Department; Bijay Kumar Swain, Additional Secretary; Ashok Kumar Panda; and other senior officials.
The dignitaries congratulated the winners of various competitions held during the festival, marking a memorable conclusion to the Odisha State Youth Festival 2025.
