Thiruvananthapuram: On a lively Wednesday afternoon in Thiruvananthapuram, the air at Central Stadium was filled with excitement and joy as the 63rd State School Arts Festival reached its grand finale. A large crowd had gathered to witness the much-awaited announcement, and when the points tally was updated one final time, an eruption of cheers echoed through the field. Some students, swept up in the moment, couldn’t resist breaking into impromptu dances, their joy reflecting the pride of a hard-fought victory. The Gold Cup was bagged by Thrissur. With 1008 points, the district narrowly defeated Palakkad (1007).  In the high school category, both teams were tied at 482 points. However, it was the higher secondary students who ensured Thrissur's victory, with the district scoring 526 points compared to Palakkad's 525.

Thrissur's victory after 25 years
After a gap of 25 years, Thrissur has won the prestigious Gold Cup in the State School Youth Festival. The last time Thrissur claimed the title was at the Kollam festival in 1999.

Other major winners

Last year's winners, Kannur, had to settle for third place with 1003 points. Kozhikode, which had held the crown for 21 years, recorded a fourth-place finish with 1000 points.

In the school category, Palakkad’s Alathoor B.S.G. Gurukulam Higher Secondary School secured the first position with 171 points, leading by a major margin. Thiruvananthapuram’s Carmel Higher Secondary School came second, while Idukki’s M.K.N.M.H.S. School claimed the third spot.

At the closing ceremony, Education Minister V. Sivankutty will distribute prizes to the winners. The event will be inaugurated by Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan, with film stars Tovino Thomas and Asif Ali attending as guests.