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Kerala to host next National Games

Kerala, also known as God`s own country, will be hosting the next National Games, the 35th edition of the sporting extravaganza, in 2012.

Ranchi: Kerala, also known as God`s own country, will be hosting the next National Games, the 35th
edition of the sporting extravaganza, in 2012. The onus of the Games will be handed over to the Kerala state during the closing ceremony of the ongoing Games in Ranchi on February 26. This is the second time Kerala will be hosting the event, after it organised the Games way back in 1987. The event will be held at Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. During the handing over ceremony to be held at Ranchi in Jharkhand, the Kerala organising committee has planned a 12- minute extravaganza to showcase the state`s rich culture, art, traditions and its passion for sports. The cultural and sports events have been conceptualised by Kerala`s renowned national award filmmaker Shyamaprasad along with creative director Shubhra Mehandiratta from Mumbai, who recently handled the opening and closing ceremony of the South Asian Winter Games in Dehradun and Auli. Shibu Chakravarty`s lyrics for the 12-minute show has been sung by Ouseppachan and is choreographed by Harishchandra Bhatt. The central theme is `Togetherness in Sports`, while part of the lyrics describes the Kerala Games` mascot. The Horn bill, represents speed and strength, both salient features of Kerala`s sporting Community. Over 170 dancers and performers from Kerala are expected to perform. The line-up includes a team of Kalaripayattu Martial warriors, the Katahkali Streevesham team, Mohiniattam Dancers, the Powerful Rhythms of the Chenda Drummers and the Shingarimelam and Kerala Horns. PTI