20th National Youth Festival will start today in Naya Raipur, the new capital city of Chhattisgarh. The five day long event will continue till January 16. The youth festival is being organised on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanada. Over 6000 youths from across the country are participating in the National Youth Festival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the youths via video conferencing during the opening ceremony while Union minister Nitin Gadkari will grace the occasion as the chief guest.<br/><br/>The theme for the festival is "India Youth for Skill, Development and Harmony". The festival is being jointly organised by Chhattisgarh Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan and National Service Scheme.<br/>During this five-day event contests in 18 different disciplines, including folk dance, folk song, drama, classical music, classical dance will be held. For the first time in the youth fest, para-trooping would be displayed by Indian Army. Weapons and ammunition used during war will also be put on exhibition.<br/>A Youth Parliament will also be held where representatives of student unions and Universities would discuss key issues of the country. The mascot for the event is Wild Buffalo, the state animal of Chhattisgarh. The mascot has been named as 'Sangi', which means "friend".