Preparations begin for cultural jamboree

Mangaluru: Preparations are on for the International Cultural Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides (BSG), Karnataka to be held at the Alva’s Education institution premise, Vidyagiri, in Moodbidri from December 21 to 27.
Over 50,000 students from across the country and 13 foreign countries including Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will participate. The visa formalities of Scouts, Guides, Rovers and Rangers are on said PGR Sindhia, state chief commissioner, BSG Karnataka
He told reporters on Monday that for the first time, the International Cultural Jamboree is being held in India and chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has been invited to take part in the event.
BSG district commissioner Dr M Mohan Alva said the event will be hosted on 100-acres of Alva’s institutions in Vidyagiri. A series of creative activities including yoga and meditation in the morning, adventure activities, an exhibition of talents, march past, Zumba, band display, all religion prayer, marathon and others have been planned for the participants. They will be taken to various tourist destinations too.
Krishi mela, food mela, science, art and book fair will also be held. Further, there will be traditional games like goli, kabaddi, lifting stone balls, ‘pagade,’ ‘chowka bara,’ ‘ashtapada’ and others. The participants will take a walk through the woods to experience the culture of tribes, they will have high ropes activities, and a scout exhibition.
Artists of national and international repute will present cultural evenings during the Jamboree. A grand Christmas is planned at the camp on December 25. The celebrations will have hundreds of Santa Claus, angels and fairies. Cultural performances and carol singing will be held. Activities like crib-making, star-making, and Christmas card-making will also be organised.
Accommodation along with food will be arranged for the participants. The event is being hosted at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore, Dr Alva said. “There is a plan to set up Yuva Shakthi Kendra at Scouts Bhavana in Pilikula, to impart training for the Scouts, Guides, Rovers and Rangers,” he added.