Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Veena George will on Friday inaugurate Varnachirakukkal, a three-day festival for children in need of care and protection who reside in government child care institutions functioning under the WCD department.
This year, children living in entry homes functioning as part of the Nirbhaya scheme will also take part in the festival, to be held at Government College for Women, Vazhuthacaud.
The annual festival aims at nurturing the children’s talents and showcasing their performances in arts and sports. Nearly 1,000 children will compete in 22 events at the children’s fete.
Shashi Tharoor, MP, will be the chief guest. Meenakshi Anoop, actor, will be present. Antony Raju, MLA, will preside over the inauguration, to be held at 9.30 a.m. on Friday.
Select children from the districts will be presented with the Ujjwala Balyam awards for 2024 on the occasion.
Competitions will be held in events such as Thiruvathira, group dance, skit, folk song, mono act, mimicry, light music, poetry recitation, Oppana, cinematic dance, folk dance, elocution, story-telling, essay writing, painting, clay modelling, fancy dress, and Mappilapattu,
A Kalasandhya will be held in the evening on the first two days of the festival.
Published – January 01, 2026 07:21 pm IST
