The five-day 9th North East Youth Festival 2026, which commenced on March 17 culminated on March 21 at the Chümoukedima Football Stadium.
Addressing the gathering as the special guest, Minister, Higher Education & Tourism, Temjen Imna Along welcomed all and expressed appreciation for their active participation throughout the festival.
He said the North East Youth Festival reflects the vision of the Prime Minister towards Viksit Bharat, adding that the youth of the North East have an important role to play in nation building. He stated that all the North Eastern states are working together towards development and progress and highlighted that the region, with its diverse communities including smaller and tribal states, has great potential for growth. With inclusive governance by the Central Government, the North East has been brought more into the mainstream and is moving forward steadily, he noted.
Emphasising on the role of youth, Along said that youth are the strength of the nation and the future of both the state and the country depends on them. He added that the direction and progress of society is shaped by the energy and contribution of young people.
He also said that under the leadership of Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, efforts are being made to further develop youth resources in the state. Along appreciated the various music and cultural performances presented by the participants during the festival and said such platforms help in showcasing the rich traditions and talents of the region.
He encouraged the youth to be responsible, to value their culture and traditions, and at the same time focus on education and growth. He said the youth should work towards peace, stability, development, and contribute towards building a better society.
He further urged the participants to carry forward the spirit of unity and friendship and to work towards contributing to a stronger North East and a developed India, despite various challenges.
He also congratulated the officials of the Department of Youth Resources and Sports and all those involved in organising the festival for their efforts in making the event successful.
The Director of Youth Resources & Sports, Kethosituo Sekhose, NCS, presented a brief report of the 9th North East Youth Festival 2026, where he stated that around 1200 participants, officials, and volunteers from all eight North Eastern States took part in the festival, along with NSS and MY Bharat volunteers from across the country.
Sekhose said that six competitiveevents were conducted during the festival, including folk song, folk dance, instrumental guitar, rock band, declamation, and one-act play, providing a platform for youth to showcase their talents. He further stated that non-competitive activities such as martial arts demonstrations, cultural presentations and exposure visits were also organised.
He also highlighted the active participation of NSS and MY Bharat volunteers. Over 200 NSS volunteers attended a two-day seminar covering topics such as youth leadership, Viksit Bharat @2047 and the concept of Ashtalakshmi. MY Bharat volunteers also organised Yuva Kriti and food festival stalls, showcasing local creativity and entrepreneurship.
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He said the festival provided an opportunity for interaction, exchange of ideas and better understanding among youth of the region and added that the programme helped promote unity, teamwork, and cultural appreciation among the participants. He stated that the festival has showcased the talent and diversity of the youth and strengthened unity and cooperation among the North Eastern States.
The closing ceremony featured a wide range of cultural displays, including martial arts demonstrations by teams from Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura. A prize distribution ceremony was also held where the Special Guest handed out awards to the winners of the festival’s various competitions. In the One Act Play competition, Arunachal Pradesh secured first position, followed by Manipur in second place and Mizoram in third, while Tripura and Nagaland received consolation prizes. In the Declamation category, Arunachal Pradesh won first place while Tripura secured second, and Mizoram stood third. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh received consolation prizes.
In the Folk Song competition, Manipur secured first position, Nagaland came second and Tripura stood third, while Mizoram and Sikkim received consolation prizes.
In the Folk Dance category, Manipur secured first place, followed by Mizoram in second and Sikkim in third, while Nagaland and Meghalaya received consolation prizes. In the rock band category, Nagaland got first place followed by Mizoram at second position and Sikkim at third place. The programme was chaired by Joint Secretary, Temjensangla, NCS.
