Youths from Kashmir taste a slice of Mysuru

MYSURU: Nearly 132 youths including 22 girls, who arrived in the city on Friday from six districts of Jammu and Kashmir under a youth exchange programme, were given a traditional welcome at the Youth Hostel in Saraswathipuram.
They were greeted with a Mysuru peta and a shawl each. State youth coordinator Atul Nikam and district youth coordinator Siddhramappa welcomed the group. They will be in the city till March 11. They will be taken to various cultural, industrial and tourist sites including the iconic Mysore Palace besides showcasing the state’s achievements and progress in various areas during their stay.
The youths belong to Baramulla, Kupwara, Srinagar, Anantnag, Budgam and Pulwama districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The exchange programme has been jointly organised by Union ministry of home affairs, youth affairs & sports and Nehru Yuva Kendra. The visiting youths will get an exposure on arts, culture, heritage, literature, language, customs and tradition of other states.
Nehru Yuva Kendra has also organised cultural programmes on every evening at the youth hostel and other venues for the visitors.
Speaking to reporters, youth representatives Naseema Bashir from Srinagar and Arif Ahammed from Budgaum appreciated the government for organizing such programmes for Kashmiri youths to have an exposure of different food culture, tradition, dress, customs and various forms of lifestyle of other states.
They also shared their experiences that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were happy and adjusting to new governance, policies and programmes of Union government after abrogation of Article 370.
The food, dress culture and environment of Mysuru are entirely different from Jammu and Kashmir, they said.
The organizers had greeted the visitors with Dollukunitha, Veeraghase and and other folk dances.
National Youth awardee Anupama and others were present.