PROUD WINNERS: Students of the Aluva educational sub-district hold the trophy after being declared overall champions at the 19th Ernakulam District Schools Arts Festival which concluded at Muvattupuzha on Saturday. — Photo: Vipinchandran

MUVATTUPUZHA: Aluva educational sub-district lifted the overall championship at the 19th Ernakulam District Schools Arts Fete that concluded here on Saturday. Aluva won 562 points while Thripunithura emerged second with 522 points. Ernakulam was placed third in the point tally with 461 points.

In the U.P. Section, Aluva emerged winners with 201 points. Mattancherry came second with 189 points. Thripunithura was in the third place with 188 points.

Saturday was the day of the Chenda event. Students drummed their way into the hearts of hundreds who turned up to watch the `tayamabaka' and Chenda competitions held at the main venue. Judges had a tough time evaluating the contestants as most of them came up with excellent performances. When the results of the `tayambaka' competition were declared in the afternoon, Sachin Varma of Sree Venkiteswara EMHS, Thripunithura emerged the winner. Trained under Kalamandalam Kesava Poduval, Sachin had won laurels in the earlier editions of the district schools arts fete.

In the Maddhalam event, Vineeth Chandran of Toc H High School, Eloor, won the first prize. He has been learning Maddhalam for the last six years. CCPLM Anglo Indian HSS, Perumanoor, retained its legacy of winning the Band event. The team edged past stiff competition from others to walk away with the first prize.

Tough fight

An all-girls team from Nirmala HSS, Aluva gave the CCPLM team a tough fight. The girls' team was adjudged second. They won the hearts of the public for the uniformity and discipline maintained throughout the competition. The school management lodged its protest against the continuing tradition of not holding a separate band competition for girls. Principal of Nirmala HSS Sr. Gita said, "it is unfair that there is no separate competition for girls. We have lodged our protest but the authorities are yet to take any decision."

Lack of professionalism in the conduct of the festival and exceptional young talents emerging in various competitions were the major highlights of the 19th edition of the festival.

Serious differences between the organisers and local bodies of Muvattupuzha hampered the festive spirit. Representatives of the local bodies kept away from the festival circuit alleging that they were not given adequate representation by the organisers.

Serious differences also cropped up among teachers' organisations triggering protests from various quarters. But students who participated in various events provided the relief to hundreds who turned up at the Government Model Boys High School, the main venue of the festival.

Except in a few events, the overall performance of students was outstanding.

This edition of the festival was also short of tussles between teachers and judges. The Government decision to use cassettes and CDs in place of live music in dance and group events also seems to have yielded good results. The winners of various events will now represent Ernakulam district in the State festival to be held in Kannur.

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