Peace fest begins today

CHANDIGARH: The ninth International Youth Peace Festival (IYPF) — that attracts non-violence crusaders and Gandhian followers from across the world — will kick off with a welcome evening for young international peace delegates on Saturday evening.
The delegates have converged in the city from SAARC countries, the African region, ASEAN countries, Russia, Taiwan, Mongolia and Syria.Pakistani delegates, who re-joined the festival last year after being denied a visa for three consecutive years, will again be a part of the fest.
On the festival's first day, which coincides with World Tourism Day, union minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher will honour five Tricity academics at KB DAV Senior Secondary Public School in Sector 7.
The awardees include Upkar Krishan Sharma, president of GGDSD College governing body; sister Maria Swati AC, principal of Carmel Convent School, Sector 9; Raj Bala, principal of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37D; Krit Serai, principal of Satluj Public School, Panchkula; Rosy Sharma, principal of DAV Public Senior Secondary School, SAS Nagar.
Pramod Sharma, coordinator of Yuvsatta, which organizes the fest, said these awards are presented every year in recognition of services rendered to inculcate and imbibe the seeds of education, ahimsa (nonviolence), truth, service and love for humanity in young minds.