Mon Dec 01 16:44:01 UTC 2025: ## News Article: District School Arts Festival Kicks Off in Attingal Amid Delays and Protests

Thiruvananthapuram, December 1, 2025 (The Hindu e-Paper) – The District School Arts Festival commenced in Attingal on Monday, December 1st, but not without its share of hiccups. The five-day celebration of student talent officially began with a flag-hoisting ceremony led by Deputy Director of Education Sreeja Gopinath. The event also featured a welcome song performed by district teachers, written by lyricist Premjith and tuned by music teacher Krishnalal. The festival was formally inaugurated by General Education Additional Director R.S. Shibu. Due to the ongoing model code of conduct, elected officials were absent from the ceremony.

However, the festivities faced immediate challenges. A delayed inauguration led to a knock-on effect, pushing back the start times for several competitions. Further disruptions arose during the Kathakali event. Contestants and their guardians protested the distance between the designated green room (near venue no. 4) and the stage (venue no. 5), deeming it too far to traverse in costume. They requested that the venue allocated for Poorakali (venue no. 4) be repurposed for their use.

Festival organizers initially rejected this request, leading to a standoff. Ultimately, Ms. Gopinath intervened and negotiated a resolution with the protesters, allowing the Kathakali event to proceed. Despite the rocky start, the District School Arts Festival is expected to continue throughout the week, showcasing the artistic prowess of students from across the district.

Read More