The District Level Kala Utsav-2025 of South Andaman concluded with a vibrant display of artistic expression, drawing together students from across the region for a two-day celebration of music, theatre, dance, and visual arts. The event, hosted in the auditorium of Girls Government Senior Secondary School, underscored the importance of cultural education alongside academics in nurturing holistic development among students.
The inaugural session was attended by District Project Officer of Samagra Shiksha, South Andaman, who encouraged participants to embrace creativity and use Kala Utsav as a platform to explore their potential. The event served as a culmination of earlier block-level competitions held on September 3 and 4, ensuring representation from a wide range of schools across the district.
Students competed in ten categories, highlighting diverse art forms. In the vocal music solo segment, Deepika of GMSSS Ferrargunj secured top honors. Group vocal music saw the participation of students from GSS Harminder Bay, with Florence Nightingale, Albethel Rose, Kethlene, and Tina Line, all from Class IX, winning appreciation for their performance. The instrumental music category was dominated by Sriram Manna of GSSS RBV, while theatre saw strong performances from GMSSS Aberdeen students Divyanka Prasad, B. Anusha Nath, Aditya Roy, and Jack Rudolph.
Dance was another major highlight, with Carmel Senior Secondary School’s Harini excelling in solo performance, while the group dance by GSSS Bathubasti, featuring Nitika Das, R. Kaviya, K. Darika Sree, and G. Bhuvaneswari, won recognition for its coordination and presentation. Traditional storytelling, represented by students from PM SHRI Swaraj Dweep, brought forward the talents of Mimma Biswas and Sweety Roy, who impressed audiences with their narrative skills.
In the visual art category, creativity was displayed in multiple dimensions. Arpita Bepari of VKV Lamba Line showcased skill in 2D work, while Trisha S. Balan of Carmel Senior Secondary School excelled in 3D art. Group entries from GSSS Girls, presented by Anushree Das and G. Yamuna, highlighted the collaborative spirit of Kala Utsav and its encouragement of teamwork in the creative process.
Judges drawn from diverse artistic and academic fields evaluated the entries, ensuring fairness and providing constructive feedback to participants. Their role added credibility to the event, making the competition a genuine platform for both recognition and learning.
Kala Utsav has over the years become a flagship initiative to promote arts in schools, emphasizing the significance of cultural activities as a complement to scholastic achievement. By offering space for students to explore music, theatre, visual art, and dance, the event nurtures both talent and confidence. It also allows students from remote and diverse backgrounds to interact, exchange ideas, and build cultural connections that extend beyond the classroom.
For South Andaman, the 2025 edition reflected a healthy participation of schools and an evident enthusiasm among students. The inclusion of traditional storytelling and visual arts underscored the importance of preserving cultural heritage while allowing space for innovation and contemporary expression.
The event is not only a competition but also a learning environment where participants absorb techniques, stage presence, and collaborative skills that could influence their future pursuits. While winners will move on to higher levels of competition, every participant gained exposure and encouragement, strengthening the broader cultural landscape of the islands.
By drawing together performances across disciplines, Kala Utsav reinforced the message that education is incomplete without creativity. The 2025 edition demonstrated that young learners of South Andaman are ready to blend talent with discipline, heritage with innovation, and competition with collaboration.
