Governor M K Narayanan and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the main programme at the Salt Lake stadium christened as 'International Youth Festival'.
A host of luminaries from the fields of literature, music and arts attended the ceremony where the proceedings began with rabindra sangeet followed by a parade of police constables recruited from junglemahal and an oath-taking ceremony.
The oath was administered by the chief minister.
A dance drama 'Veer Sanyasai' (Brave Saint) was performed by students aged between 5-18 of different schools.
Tollywood superstar Dev dressed as Vivekananda along with 150 chuldren dressed similarly marched on the field as part of the celebrations.
Banerjee announced that schools which participated in the festival would remain closed on Monday.
A fair was also held in the stadium to showcase the art and culture of Bengal.
The festival will be held at the Rabindra Sadan for next two days and the closing ceremony will take place at Nazrul Manch on January 14.