The 37th Inter-University National Youth Festival kicked off at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) amid the kaleidoscope of varied cultures, myriad colours and vivacious youthful spirits. Nearly 2,500 students from 118 varsities of India are participating in the five-day youth fest, orchestrated under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi. Designed under the youth-centric logo ‘HUNAR 2024 – Harvesting National Talent,’ the cultural procession at the youth festival demonstrated and celebrated the ‘Unity in Diversity’ to the fullest. Clad in their traditional and regional attires, the student contingents walked along the road starting from Thapar Hall to Dr AS Khera Open Air Theatre, dancing to the dhol beats, unlocking their inner vigour, and promoting youth empowerment. The release of the colourful balloons marked the beginning of the cultural procession which had an immense appeal and jam-packed the routes leading to the Open Air Theatre at PAU.
The chief guest Dr (Mrs) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General, AIU, New Delhi, urged the youths, “Value art and make yourself artistic as well as artistes.” Terming the universities as the storehouse of knowledge, she called upon the youths to be robust morally, academically, non-academically (co-curricular activities), economically and socially. She wished all success to the participants ahead of the four-day upcoming events.

Dr KS Aulakh, Former Vice-Chancellor, PAU; Dr Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU); and Mr Baljit Singh Sekhon, Joint Secretary of AIU, also graced the occasion and lauded the buoyant spirits of the participating youths.
Addressing the students as ‘beacon-lights’ of the nation, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, exhorted the youths to strive for excellence that was never granted, but always rewarded due to hard labour. “There lies an artist within each student and that talent must be channelized in the suitable direction,” he observed, while extolling the unbridled enthusiasm of the students for participation in the fest.

Mr Rishi Pal Singh, Registrar, PAU, told the students, “Youth is full of life, energy, and delight. Don’t be perturbed by the complex battles of life, but march towards the path of success sans distraction and with unwavering dedication.”

A renowned Punjabi singer and AIU youth fest product Jasvir Jassi was the star guest on the occasion. He enthralled the audience with his popular Punjabi songs that exhilarated the entire atmosphere of the Open Air Theatre.

In his welcome remarks, Dr Nirmal Singh Jaura, Director Students’ Welfare, said that the stage of the youth fest has produced as well as satiated many artists’ yearning for fame. “PAU is glad to hold this gala event for the first time,” he informed, while divulging that earlier, the University had organised North-Zone Inter-Varsity Youth Fest in 2015-16.”

Mr Vishal Bector, Associate Director (Institutional Linkages), and Dr Ashu Toor coordinated the programme and proposed a vote of thanks.