Chandigarh, Sept 30; Today, on the second last day of 7th International Youth Peace Festival (IYPF), jointly organized by YUVSATTA, GGD SD College, Oxfam-India & Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, a whole spectrum of love, brotherhood and constructive competitiveness was brought to fore at different venues in the city. About 500 participants from 35 nations & four different continents showcased their cultural uniqueness with an inherent ability to co- exist peacefully.
In a unique ten-ten over ‘Cricket For Peace’ match consisting of players from different countries a mix-up of boys & girls, playing on both sides, participants cheered teams, irrespective of their national and geographical affiliations. Boys and girls from China, India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh- all played in one team. The same was on the other side, players made a team with sportsmanship. Sport was treated in true sportsman spirit. On the other side of SD College ground, where cricket was played, some Kites flew in the sky, bearing messages for peace and harmony from participants of warring countries. “Sky has no boundaries”, read one of the hundreds of kites, transgressing man made boundaries that cause wars and conflicts. Red Ribbon One World One Sky Kite Flying event added dots of white, blue and orange with messages of love & peace. To promote healthy life-style ‘Red Ribbon HIV/AIDS face painting’, a HIV/AIDS Quiz, street play on HIV/AIDS, courtesy UT State AIDS Control Society were the other attractions of the day.
The main attraction of the day remained meeting & interaction of IYPF delegates with waterman/jalpurush Rajendra Singh, the man who ‘divined’ water in the arid regions of eastern Rajasthan by building water-harvesting structures; he is also the winner of the 2001 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. Sharing his concerns he said our focus should be on finding solutions that will work for the people dependent on the river. A focus on what works for the river and the people who live along it, rather than what is profitable, is one of his primary concerns. He motivated the international gathering of youngsters to become ‘water warriors’.
The show stealer for the day was a ‘Beyond Border Fashion Show’ & a ‘CHINA DAY’ Multi-Cultural evening commemorating age-old Indo-China relations at GGD SD College, Chandigarh. Cultural troupes from many countries and states like Spain, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, brought back sounds of Rebab, lost to India since partition. The Chinese delegation also presented seven performances, including singing, dancing, calligraphy performance, flute performance, etc. Singers from Afghanistan also played the Rebab. Dances from many states of India added colour and gaiety to the show. Language may have been a barrier beats were not. It was a day of bonhomie for the young who have crossed boundaries with message for peace.