Thiruvananthapuram: A staggering 12,000 school students will compete for prizes in 232 events at the 56th State School Arts Festival that began here on Tuesday. The fest is said to be the biggest of its kind in Asia in terms of participation.
The event is held for students from state-run schools and competition takes place between the 14 districts of the state.
The event, that returned to the state capital after seven years, started on Tuesday, with 6,000 students from 35 schools in Thiruvananthapuram district walking down the M.C. Road as part of the inaugural pageantry event, ahead of the official inauguration by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Over the years, this event has always been seen as the launch pad for budding school students who look for a career in the cultural arena.
Some leading artistes who won prizes as students include singers K.J. Yesudas and P. Jayachandran, actors Manju Warrier, Navya Nair, Vineeth, as well as state Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson to name a few.
The 232 events will be held at 19 venues in the state capital.
The highlight of the event is food for all participants, which the organisers are preparing in one make-shift kitchen.