Thrissur, Jan 18 (IANS) Malayalam cinema superstar and icon Mohanlal will be the chief guest at the grand finale of the 64th State School Arts Festival in Kerala’s Thrissur on Sunday, lending star appeal to the concluding celebrations of Kerala’s largest cultural event for students.

The valedictory ceremony, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., will be inaugurated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, V. D. Satheesan.

Hosted this year in Thrissur, the festival will conclude after days of colourful performances, intense competition, and massive public participation.

As the event enters its final stretch, only eight competitions remain to be completed, setting the stage for a dramatic finish in the race for the coveted Golden Cup.

The points table underscores how closely fought this year’s festival has been. Kannur is currently in the lead with 990 points.

Host district Thrissur is close behind in second place with 983 points, keeping hopes alive for a last-minute surge.

Palakkad stands third with 982 points, while Kozhikode, which had earlier occupied second position, has slipped to fourth with 981 points.

With just a handful of points separating the top four districts, every remaining performance is expected to be crucial. Schools are locked in a fierce battle for each point, as judging in the final events could significantly alter the rankings.

Festival officials and observers believe that the ultimate winner may only be known in the final moments of the competition.

While northern districts are striving to maintain their dominance at the State School Arts Festival, districts from central and southern Kerala are making determined efforts to stage a strong comeback, adding to the suspense on the concluding day.

Adding an emotional and inspirational note to the festival, students from the Vellarmala School in Wayanad, who have been recovering from the trauma of a devastating landslide in their region, participated in the Vanchippattu (boat song) competition on Saturday.

Their performance was widely appreciated and stood as a powerful symbol of resilience. As the final events unfold and the closing ceremony approaches, anticipation is running high across Kerala, with students, teachers, and parents eagerly awaiting the announcement of this year’s champions.

–IANS

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