Chandigarh, 19 March: The Postgraduate Department of English at Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women in Chandigarh organised its Literary Fest 2026, “Literary Blossoms”, to celebrate creativity, critical thinking, and the power of expression among students.
Prof. Meenu Gupta, Chairperson, Department of English and Cultural Studies, Panjab University, was the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony. Prof. Gupta stated that literary festivals are vibrant spaces where culture becomes a lived experience rather than just theory. She highlighted that literature is not only about the written word; it also reflects how we live, perceive, and perform. She pointed out the importance of such events in today's digital age, emphasising that in a world driven by AI, literature helps people become more nuanced and sensitive.
Building excitement ahead of the main event, a series of engaging pre-events, Script to Scroll (creating Instagram accounts of literary characters) and Cine Shorts (a short film competition on the theme “Contemporary Social or Environmental Issues”), generated considerable enthusiasm and participation among students. The fest brought together literature enthusiasts, budding writers, and creative minds from various institutions, who participated in a diverse line-up of innovative competitions. These included book cover making-Judging by the Cover, dramatic speech enactment- Echoes of Expression, creative storytelling- Twist the Tail of a Tale, handwriting contest- Khush Khat, photography competition- Six-word Snapshots, and quiz- Quill and Quest. Each event reflected originality and encouraged participants to explore new dimensions of literary and artistic expression.
The highlights of the fest included ‘Rendezvous with Authors’, featuring Col. Avnish Sharma, Author and Columnist, and Mr. Jupinderjit Singh, Author and Journalist, where students had the opportunity to engage in meaningful literary discussions. Another major attraction was the vibrant ‘Literary Runway’, which added a creative and performative dimension to the fest.
Officiating Principal Ms. Neena Sharma remarked that in today's world filled with
hyphenated narratives, a literary fest is the need of the hour. She noted that art and literature give voice to every individual, making life more meaningful and liveable.