Kolkata, 06 October (H.S.): Around 500 school students came together on Tuesday to create a massive human rangoli at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, marking the centerpiece of the Colors of Service, With the Nation (Sebar Ronge Desher Songe) event organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of West Bengal. The initiative was held as part of the nationwide Seva Sankalp campaign aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The event saw the presence of several senior dignitaries, including Minister of Commerce and Industry Tapas Roy, Minister of Tourism Dr. Shankar Ghosh, and Minister of Forest and Environment Manoj Kumar Oraon. Members of the Legislative Assembly Ratna Deonath and Papiya Adhikari, alongside senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Locket Chatterjee, Rahul Sinha, Anjana Basu, and Sonali Murmu Soren, were also in attendance.

Delivering the welcome address, Tourism Department Secretary Soumitra Shankar Sengupta extended his gratitude to the visiting ministers, legislators, party leaders, and participating students. Sengupta stated that the initiative commenced on September 23, witnessing enthusiastic participation from school students across diverse districts. BJP leader Sonali Murmu Soren remarked on the occasion that such cultural engagements serve as an inspiring vehicle to propel West Bengal and the nation toward holistic progress.

Addressing the gathering, Tourism Minister Dr. Shankar Ghosh emphasized that the program forms an integral component of the nationwide Seva Sankalp mission. Ghosh pointed out that sustainable development cannot be achieved merely through the imitation of Western models, underscoring that the initiative aims to reconnect people with their rooted cultural ethos. Expressing pride in West Bengal's active participation in this journey, he urged the youth to carry the nation's heritage into every household.

Commerce and Industry Minister Tapas Roy noted that the Viksit Bharat initiative envisions overall prosperity for every household while nurturing creative sensibilities among children. He called upon the students to take pride in India's timeless traditions and actively preserve its civilizational heritage.

Highlighting the artistic contributions of the youth, BJP leader Locket Chatterjee observed that students across districts and development blocks have effectively celebrated the rich cultural fabric of Bengal and India through traditional alpana and rangoli art forms. She expressed confidence that the energy and dedication of India's youth will successfully drive the realization of the Viksit Bharat 2047 objective.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh