Bhubaneswar, Jan 11 The rhythm of Odissi dance — one of the famous classical Indian dances from Orissa — performed by artistes from across the country enthralled the audience on the third day of the National Youth Festival here on Sunday.

The performance by a male dancer from Karnataka and by dancers from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the afternoon kept the audience spellbound at city's Jayadev Bhawan.

Another performance that thrilled the audience was the Kuchipudi by dancers from various part of the country that began in the morning and continued till lunch hour at the same venue.

Competitions in various instrumental, classical and other events to select the best talent of the country were also held at different theatres and open stages throughout the day.

At least 4,000 youth from all over the country are competing in about 17 categories of cultural competitions in classical, semi-classical and folk arts during the five-day 15th edition of National Youth Festival, which began here on Friday.

The festival is organised every year in January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on January 12.

The festival is being organised in Orissa by the State Government in collaboration with the youth affairs and sports department of the Central Government.

Heavy crowds were also seen at YuvaKriti, an exhibition at city's exhibition ground, the government has organised to demonstrate and sell food items, handicrafts, handlooms and household materials from different states.

This exhibition drew thousands of viewers right from morning till late evening.