Sonu Nigam Live in Concert in Udaipur ...

The City of Lakes is all set to be decked in vibrant hues as the much-awaited National Youth Festival 2011 will begin on Wednesday. 

The festival is organised jointly by the ministry of youth affairs and sports, and the department of youth affairs and sports, Rajasthan. 

The five-day extravaganza will be held at various locations across Udaipur. Over 5,000 participants from various parts of the country are expected to showcase their culture through folk dances, culinary skills besides taking part in competitions like painting, drawing, slogan-writing etc. 

More than 200 students from Asean and Saarc countries are expected to participate in this festival, which is going international for the first time. This year's theme is Sabse Pehle Bharat'. 

Several dignitaries and politicians, including Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Rajasthan governor Shivraj Patil, chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Union minister for youth affairs and sports MS Gill, and minister of state for youth affairs Mani Lal Garasai are likely to attend the event. 

The opening ceremony will be presided by Vice-President Hamid Ansari at the MB Stadium in Udaipur from 3pm followed by a cultural programme on the theme Ethnicity in India'. 

The major highlight of the festival is electrifying performances by various hip-hop, jazz and pop bands under the Western Music and Rock Band Nite' to be held at MB Stadium on January 14. Popular bands such as Parikrama and Soulmate will perform besides folk singers and dancers. 

On January 15, it is playback singer Sonu Niigaam Ji's turn to enthrall the youngsters at MB Stadium. The closing ceremony also promises to be equally riveting with a colourful performance by the bands from Indian Armed Forces. 

NYF is organised in collaboration with the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and National Service Scheme (NSS). 

The district authorities have introduced special buses to ferry participants from locations at a reasonable price. The events will take place at Rajasthan Agriculture University, Meera Kanya Mahavidhlaya, Railway Training Centre, Mohanlal Sukhadia University and Shilpgram.