Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. UDHAMPUR: The University of Jammu inaugurated the 3rd Zonal Level Youth Festival, ‘Display Your Talent 2026 – Udhampur-Reasi Zone’, at its Udhampur Campus on October 30, marking the commencement of a two-day celebration of artistic expression, creativity and cultural excellence. Organised by the Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu, the festival is being conducted on October 30 and 31, 2026, with the objective of providing students from colleges across the Udhampur-Reasi Zone an inclusive and dynamic platform to exhibit their creative abilities and artistic accomplishments.
The two-day cultural extravaganza features competitions across 27 categories, covering diverse disciplines, including music, dance, literary arts, fine arts and theatre. The initiative reflects the vision of Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, to decentralise cultural activities and extend meaningful opportunities for artistic engagement and exposure to students, particularly those pursuing their education in far-flung and geographically remote areas.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Ms. Shruti Awasthi, Regional Director, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Jammu and Kashmir, as the Chief Guest, while Prof. Monika Chadha, Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee, University of Jammu, attended as the Guest of Honour. Prof. Yash Pal Sharma, Rector, Udhampur Campus, University of Jammu, along with other distinguished dignitaries, was also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Ms. Shruti Awasthi highlighted the profound relationship between art and India's ancient scriptural traditions, emphasising that art and wisdom are intrinsically interconnected and cannot be viewed in isolation. She underscored the importance of patience and perseverance in an artist's journey, describing these qualities as essential to the cultivation of creativity and artistic excellence. Appreciating the concerted efforts of the Department of Students Welfare and Udhampur Campus in facilitating such an enriching opportunity for students of the region, she expressed satisfaction over the enthusiastic participation witnessed at the festival. She also encouraged students to exercise discretion and responsibility while utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media in the contemporary digital environment.
Prof. Monika Chadha, Guest of Honour, appreciated the comprehensive arrangements made by Udhampur Campus for organising the cultural festival and welcomed the encouraging increase in participation from colleges across the Udhampur-Reasi Zone this year. She particularly commended Prof. Yash Pal Sharma, Rector, Udhampur Campus, for his sustained commitment, dedicated efforts and meticulous planning in successfully hosting the festival for the third consecutive year. She also acknowledged the visionary leadership of Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, whose emphasis on extending cultural platforms to students in far-flung regions has enabled them to access valuable opportunities for exposure, participation and artistic development.
In his address, Prof. Yash Pal Sharma, Rector, Udhampur Campus, highlighted the indispensable role of cultural activities in fostering the holistic development and overall personality of students. Drawing upon his personal experiences as a participant and winner at the Zonal and National Level Youth Festivals of Display Your Talent, he elaborated on the transformative impact that participation in such platforms can have on students' confidence, outlook and personality. He appreciated the Department of Students Welfare for its consistent efforts towards promoting cultural awareness and engagement among students belonging to different regions. Sharing anecdotes from his own experiences, he motivated the participants to channelise their youthful energy into creative, constructive and meaningful pursuits.
RESULTS OF DAY ONE
The first day of the festival witnessed enthusiastic participation across several cultural and creative disciplines. The results of the competitions conducted on October 30 were as follows:
1. Group Song (Indian): Government College for Women (GCW), Udhampur, secured the first position. Bhartiya College of Education and Bhaskar Degree College secured the second and third positions, respectively.
2. Light Vocal Solo: Neha Devi of GCW Udhampur secured the first position, while Divya Kumari, also representing GCW Udhampur, obtained the second position. Manvi Verma of Udhampur Campus secured the third position. Certificates of Merit were awarded to Radhika Sharma of GDC Chenani and Tanya of Bhartiya College of Education.
3. Classical Instrumental Solo: Meenakshi Devi and Sapna Devi, both representing GCW Udhampur, secured the first and second positions, respectively.
4. Western Vocal Solo: Manya Verma and Sanya Sambyal of GCW Udhampur secured the first and second positions, respectively.
5. Western Group Song: GCW Udhampur emerged as the first-position holder in this category.
6. Cartooning: Surya Sharma and Rahul, representing GDC Udhampur, secured the first and second positions, respectively, while Mehak Sharma of Udhampur Campus secured the third position.
7. Poster Making: Smar of GDC Udhampur secured the first position, followed by Sugandita Pandita of Bhartiya College of Education in second place and Manish Singh of GDC Udhampur in third place. Nitish of Bhartiya College of Education received a Certificate of Merit.
8. Quiz: Udhampur Campus secured the first position, while GDC Ramnagar and GDC Chenani obtained the second and third positions, respectively.
9. Collage: Rutvi Gupta and Harshita Mahajan of GCW Udhampur secured the first and second positions, respectively.
10. Clay Modelling: Ruhani of Udhampur Campus secured the first position. Priyanka Sharma of GCW Udhampur and Rahul of GDC Udhampur secured the second and third positions, respectively.
11. Rangoli: Sugandita Pandita of Bhartiya College of Education secured the first position, followed by Lakshmi Devi of GDC Chenani in second place and Kiran Devi of GDC Udhampur in third place.
JUDGING PANEL AND EVENT OBSERVERS
The competitions were evaluated by panels comprising experts and distinguished members from the respective disciplines to ensure impartial and professional assessment of participants' performances.
The judging panel for Group Song (Indian), Light Vocal Solo and Western Vocal Solo comprised Dr. Tejinder Singh Gill, Dr. Jasmeet Kaur and Ms. Tanya Gupta.
The Fine Arts competitions were adjudicated by Mr. Rakesh Sharma and Mr. Rohit Verma.
Dr. Monika Bhardwaj and Mr. Sumeet Sharma served as observers throughout the first day of the festival.
ORGANISATIONAL AND COORDINATION COMMITTEES
The various events and activities organised under the aegis of the Department of Students Welfare, University of Jammu, are conceived, planned and coordinated under the overall guidance and supervision of a dedicated team comprising Prof. Prakash Antahal, Dean Students Welfare; Prof. Monika Chadha, Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee; Prof. Sarika Manhas, Co-Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee; Dr. Pritam Singh, Associate Dean Students Welfare; Dr. Shallu Sharma and Dr. A.R. Manhas, Deputy Chief Proctors; Dr. Harleen Kaur and Dr. Ripudaman Parihar, Assistant Deans, Students Welfare; members of the Campus Cultural Committee; Ms. Mansi Mantoo, Media Officer; and Mr. Sumeet Sharma, Drama Instructor.
The proceedings of the inaugural ceremony were conducted by Dr. Jyoti Sharma.
The Coordination Committee from Udhampur Campus comprised Dr. Taruna Dubey, Mr. Nikhil Khajuria, Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Dr. Prerna Katoch, Mr. Pardeep Kumar, Dr. Som Raj, Mr. Bipin Singh, Mr. Anchal Singh, Mr. Sheetal Bhawna, Dr. Rachna and Ms. Nisha.
The sound arrangements for the festival were efficiently managed by Mr. Kulbhushan Thakur and Mr. Arif Paul, while the overall event coordination was undertaken by Mr. Sachin Sharma, Mr. Pawan Verma, Mr. Jatinder Singh and Mr. R.P. Singh.
VALEDICTORY FUNCTION ON OCTOBER 31
The two-day Zonal Level Youth Festival, ‘Display Your Talent 2026 – Udhampur-Reasi Zone’, will culminate with its valedictory function scheduled to be held on October 31, 2026, at Udhampur Campus.
The festival continues to provide an important institutional platform for nurturing artistic potential, encouraging cultural participation and facilitating the creative expression of students from colleges across the Udhampur-Reasi region, reaffirming the University of Jammu's commitment to making cultural and extracurricular opportunities accessible to students beyond the university's main campus.
