Kala Mela, a two-day inter-school fine arts festival, opened on Wednesday at Malwa College here.
Educationist Brahm Jagdish Singh was chief guest and Nehru Yuva Kendra coordinator Jagjit Singh Maan presided over the function. Principal NK Gosain greeted the guests and delivered an address. The college organises the festival every year.

Chief guest Maan asked students to shun drugs and adopt a positive and healthy attitude. "Apart from being competent professionals, students should also strive to become good human beings," he said.

The college's dean of physical education, state-award winner Raghbir Chand Sharma, also addressed the participants. Vinod Garg, Jaswinder Singh, and artist Amarjeet Singh were adjudicators of the competition. Manpreet Tiwana, Chandanpreet Kaur, and Inderpreet Kaur anchored the stage function.

Other college dignitaries included chairman Sewak Ram Singla, Rakesh Goyal, Raman Singla, and Darshan Singh. Nearly 20 schools are in the competition.

Results
Poetry recitation: Government Senior Secondary School (girls), Bathinda; debate: Government Senior Secondary, School (boys), Goniana Mandi; Shabad Gayan: Guru Nanak Dev Public Senior Secondary School, Bathinda; Elocution: Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Bathinda.