INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2015
12-17 APRIL 2015 SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
Today wars, drugs,
conflicts, partition takes front page space in newspaper and prime times on television.
So today we need efforts to accelerate a closer people to people contact in the
realm of socio -cultural community pillar in particular, youth to youth
interaction through knowledge exchange of culture, customs and traditions as
well as to strengthen friendship, solidarity and co-operation among youth from
different countries, because youth can brings the change.
Kingdom of Cambodia
took the initiative to organized International Youth Cultural Festival (IYCF)
2015 at Siem Reap to provide a stage for youth to display their amazing
cultural resources and co-cooperatively showcase performance, which reflects the
unity among nations, altogether under the theme “Unity and Solidarity: Strength
in Cultural Diversity”.
It was great
opportunity for me to be a part of 12 member delegation of India selected by
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India under the leadership
of Mr. Gaurav Aggarwal. We were informed to gather at Indian Mountaineering
Foundation (IMF) Delhi on 8th April 2015 for briefings about IYCF
event and visa processes.
On 12th April
we reached Cambodian city Siem Reap and the members of IYCF welcomed us in an
enthusiastic way. In Orientation evening, Mr. Hun Mani, Chairman of IYCF
officially welcomed the 144 delegates from 16 countries and speaks about
objectives of festival. Prime Minister Mr. Hun Sen and his wife Mrs. Bun Rany
inaugurated the cultural exhibition in which individual country showcased their
wide range of culture in their allotted stalls. Interactive session was also
taken over to develop good communication among youth of different countries. Community
village tour helps us to know about the rituals, life and culture of host
country. The main attraction of tour was 500 years old and largest religious
monument of the world Angkor Vat Temple which was constructed by King
Suryavarman II and it took approx 37 years to complete it. On 16th
April Angkor Sakranti (Cambodian New year celebration) stage was look like Mini
world because on that day grand dance event was organized in which individual
countries present their folk dances in their cultural dresses.
Welcome dinner in
traditional dress, exchange of gifts, group Photos of 144 delegates together on
every occasion and many more moments lefts the love, peace and unity mark on
youth’s mind. I think the main purpose of the event to building community
spirit for youth from 16 countries in order to accept cultural differences and
diversity and for youth to understand their identity as well as other nation’s
identity in their international community as to avoid discrimination.
On 17th
April, the memorable tour came to an end with beautiful memories, nice friends,
great experience and a message of unity, solidarity and peace to spread it into
rest of the world.
