Campus Comes Alive: Youth Festival 2025 – An Academic Lens

 ''BHAV GUNJAN'' YOUTH FESTIVAL 2025

This blog is written as a task assigned by the head of the Department of English (MKBU), Prof. and Dr. Dilip Barad Sir. 

Bhav gunjan 2025: My Journey through Bhavnagar University Youth Festival

Bhav gunjan-the name itself pulses with youthful energy, and this 33rd inter-college festival at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University was a whirlwind of creativity, intellect, and inspiration, and ran from October 8th to October 11th, 2025. Here’s my experience shaped by each vibrant event, literary reflection, and memory formed along the way.

Here is the brochure and time-table:

As October arrived, the campus transformed into a colorful tapestry of excitement and intellectual curiosity-the Youth Festival 2025 had commenced, and every corner pulsed with vibrant energy and creative anticipation. For those passionate about literature and the arts, this was more than an event; it was a living celebration of imagination, debate, and cultural expression.

8th October'2025

The Youth Festival kicked off on October 8th, 2025, with the energizing Kala Yatra - a colorful procession from Shamaldas Arts College to J.K. Sarvaiya College, where colleges and departments marched in groups, bringing powerful social themes to life. Dramatic tableaux addressed urgent concerns like rising rape cases, Gujarat’s cultural identity, challenges in education, and the negative impact of social media. Among all, Swami Sahajanand College’s dynamic “Operation Sindhoor” stole the show, transforming the procession into a moving call for awareness and change.

This photo represents the journey of art:

9th October'2025

Inaugural Celebration of Bhavgunjan

The inauguration was alive with melodious tunes. University officials and honored guests shared inspiring words about the strength of youth and how cultural festivals help shape character. I felt a deep sense of pride being involved in an event that beautifully blends intellect and creativity. Our department students also proudly performed a chorus song to welcome the guests.

To watch the live stream check these videos here-

This video presents the performances regarding "SURGUNJAN" performed at New Court Hall.

This Video showcases the "RASAGUNJAN" event held at The Atal Auditorium. 

These Videos shows the performances regarding Tribal dance- "ADIVASINRITYA"

The performances reflect Gujarat’s cultural and literary heritage, transforming regional myths and folk tales into expressive movement. By presenting these traditional art forms on an academic stage, the festival celebrates the link between literature and performance, preserving and reinterpreting oral and written traditions for modern audiences.

10th October'2025

This video showcases the Dramatic performances "EKANKI" also called Single Act Play

This video presents Ekanki, or Single Act Play performances, organized by the university to promote literary and performing arts. These plays bring literature to life through dramatic interpretation, adapting themes and characters from classic and modern works. By performing such monodramas, students enhance their expressive skills while fostering a vibrant literary culture that engages audiences with social, ethical, and cultural ideas.

This Video showcases the "Western Intrumental(Solo)" performances.

The video presents a solo Western instrumental performance from the third day of the Bhav Gunjan Youth Festival at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University (MKBU). Highlighting individual talent and artistic diversity, such performances blend Western classical and contemporary traditions, promoting cultural exchange through music. Within the festival’s literary and artistic spirit, instrumental music connects deeply with literature by expressing emotions, narratives, and themes similar to those in poetry and prose. Thus, the event showcases how both art forms - music and literature - complement each other in inspiring creativity and fostering shared cultural experience.

This video showcases the "MIME" performances.

This video presents the “MIME” performances, where artists express stories and emotions solely through facial expressions and body movements, without using speech. Closely linked to literature, mime brings written and oral narratives to life by visually portraying universal themes like love, loss, and justice. At youth festivals, such performances creatively reinterpret literary ideas, bridging art and literature while engaging audiences beyond language barriers and celebrating expressive storytelling in its purest form.

This Video highlights the performances regarding “Folk Orchestra”.

This video showcases the “Folk Orchestra” performances, emphasizing traditional instruments and melodies that celebrate regional culture and heritage. Folk music connects deeply with literature through its poetic lyrics, storytelling, and preservation of oral traditions passed down through generations. By presenting these performances, the festival highlights how music serves as a living form of literary expression, blending narrative, poetry, and cultural identity to enrich its artistic and cultural diversity.

As Sandip Jethva stepped onto the stage, the entire hall grew quiet, captivated by his enchanting flute rendition of Raag Bhupali. With its soothing and spiritual tones, his performance evoked a sense of calm and reverence, beautifully expressing that the real spirit of our culture lies not in competition but in the enduring power of music to move the soul.

This Video showcases the performances performed on "CREATIVE CHOREOGRAPHY".

This video features captivating performances from the “Creative Choreography” event, showcasing innovative dance routines that fuse diverse styles and themes to reflect contemporary youth creativity. The link to literature emerges through the narrative and expressive power of movement, as many choreographies draw inspiration from literary stories, emotions, and symbols. Through this art form, written and oral motifs are transformed into dynamic visual storytelling, allowing audiences to experience literature in motion. The event exemplifies the festival’s dedication to celebrating both traditional and modern expressions of art, fostering a deeper, more holistic engagement with creativity among young performers.

This Video shows the "CLASSICAL SINGING (SOLO)" performances.

11th October'2025

This Video showcases the concluding activities of the Youth Festival "BHAV GUNJAN".

My Interpretation and Observation Regarding BHAV GUNJAN YOUTH FESTIVAL 2025

The Bhav Gunjan Youth Festival 2025 was an incredible experience that allowed me to witness the diverse talents and creative spirit of our university.

During the Opening Ceremony, I was especially proud to see two of our classmates from the Department of English, Radhika Mehta and Shruti Sonani, perform in the Folk Group Singing category. Their melodious voices and confident stage presence beautifully represented our department, and their performance truly captured the essence of folk tradition blended with youthful enthusiasm.

On the same day, at our Department of English, our seniors - Rajdeep Bavaliya, Rutvi Pal, and Sanket Vavadiya - participated in the Quiz Competition. Their hard work and sharp intellect paid off when they secured the Second Prize. Watching them being felicitated later was a proud moment for all of us and an inspiration to strive for excellence in both academics and co-curricular activities.

Department Of English were given their medals and certificates of conquering the 2nd prize and Prakruti Bhatt ma'am and Megha Trivedi ma'am joined them.

Apart from these events, I also enjoyed several skit performances, many of which reflected the contemporary issues and perspectives of Gen Z. One that stood out for me was titled “GenZ Panchayat.” The title itself was quite thought-provoking - it perfectly blended the modern, tech-driven mindset of today’s youth with the traditional concept of the Panchayat, symbolizing community and local governance. The skit humorously yet insightfully portrayed how our generation navigates between old values and new-age ideologies, showing how Gen Z questions, reshapes, and sometimes even redefines societal norms.

Overall, these experiences made the festival not only entertaining but also intellectually engaging. Each performance offered a glimpse into how art and youth culture come together to reflect the changing dynamics of our society.

Apart from these events, I also attended the engaging Debate competition as an audience member, where two participants from our English Department - Shehzad Chokiya and Bhargav Makwana - presented their arguments impressively and precisely on contemporary topics such as politics, mass media, and other current issues.

Here is a photograph of the participants, the volunteers from The Department Of English along with our professors-

Later on the Quiz Competition winners were felicitated by the Head of Department Of English, Dr. Dilip Barad sir. 

Let’s take a look at some colorful glimpses that celebrate the energy, talent, and spirit of the Youth Festival

News paper cutouts and final rankings:

 

Proud moments! Here are our talented classmates and seniors who brought glory in different competitions.

Rangoli:

Clay Modelling:

Apart from these here are other photographs I clicked and made some amazing memories acedemically and culturally -

Stepping into the Youth Festival for the first time as a member of this university was truly an inspiring experience. As a new student, I didn’t know what to expect, but the event far exceeded my imagination. The organization, enthusiasm, and creativity on display reflected the remarkable guidance and encouragement of our professors, who clearly nurture such talent and confidence among students. This festival wasn’t just an introduction to campus life -it was a beautiful reminder of the vibrant academic and artistic spirit our department upholds. I feel genuinely grateful to have begun my journey under such dedicated mentorship.

THANK YOU!