BHAV-SPANDAN YOUTH FESTIVAL | 2024

Hello readers,

This year’s Bhav-spandan Youth Festival at Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, held from October 17 to 19, was a memorable experience. Starting with the vibrant Kalayarta and concluding with a lively closing ceremony, the festival brought together students from across the university. I had the opportunity to volunteer at various events, helping ensure everything ran smoothly and supporting participants in their moments of need. It was fulfilling to assist and be part of the behind-the-scenes efforts, as well as to cheer on friends competing in different events. Here’s a glimpse into my experience contributing to this festival as a volunteer and supporter.

Kalayatra 2024

As always, the Bhav Spandan Youth Festival kicked off with Kalayatra. During this parade, different colleges and departments presented their models, focusing on themes such as feminism, women’s empowerment, equality, and the education system.

The Kalayatra started from Shamaldas Arts College, where each department displayed their model. Our department presented a model on the education system, with a dedicated team that brought it to life.

The parade concluded with students performing energetic garba steps at the Swaminarayan Gurukul.

Click here to watch Kalayatra's performances

Stage Events:

In the stage events, the audience enjoyed a variety of performances, including short plays, skits, dramas, mimicry, and mono acting. Here are some glimpses from the stage events.

Mimicry is a skill where performers copy sounds such as trains, helicopters, animals, and famous characters like Farhan Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Oggy, and Doraemon. Some performers even added rhymes to make their acts more engaging.

The skit highlighted several important issues, covering topics like unemployment, flaws in the education system, women’s safety, and women’s empowerment. Other themes included “Gandhi Marte Kyun Nahi Hai” (Why Doesn’t Gandhi Die?), “Hum Sab 1 Hai” (We Are All One), corruption in jobs, paperless transactions, “Hu Sapana Thoda Vechu Chu” (I Want to Sell My Dreams), and the poor condition of roads in Bhavnagar.

The skit showcased how the lack of jobs and income can leave people feeling hopeless. It addressed sensitive topics like rape, exploring how legal and social barriers sometimes prevent justice. It also looked at the struggles of marginalized individuals facing discrimination. Through humor, music, and changing voices, the skit made these issues accessible, much like the satire from the Neo-Classical age.

Singing Event:

In the singing events, students performed a variety of songs, including folk, Western, Bhajans, Qawwali, poems, and Sugam Sangeet.

Comparing Bhajans to English literature reveals interesting differences in themes, style, and culture. Bhajans often explore themes like solitude, spiritual search, love, and self-discovery. While English literature covers these topics too, Bhajans bring a unique cultural touch from Gujarati heritage.

Bhajans are structured like personal stories, similar to novels or essays, taking listeners on a meaningful journey. The variety in Bhajans reflects diverse themes and experiences, making them poetic and soulful.

Poetry Recitation & Elocution:

Here are the topics for poetry recitation:

વૃદ્ધ માબાપની વેદના

કાશ એવું બને કે-

હું એવો ગુજરાતી

દોસ્ત! તુ વાત તો કર

મારું ગામ ખાલી થઈ રહ્યું છે

પ્રેમ એટલેકે

Crafting Events:

This category included poster making, painting, clay modeling, Rangoli, and installations.

Literary Events:

In literary events, we had poetry recitation, elocution, essay writing, and quiz competitions.

Our Experience as Participants and Volunteers:

This year, we didn’t win any prizes at the Youth Festival, but I witnessed the hard work and dedication of every participant in our department.

Although we didn’t place, we gained valuable lessons in unity, support, and teamwork. We managed our preparations independently, from organizing the Kalayatra to managing backstage tasks, and the encouragement from everyone was heartwarming.

The three days of the festival were enjoyable, especially since our department hosted the literature events. The university provided excellent support, offering food, transportation, and accommodation. Our volunteers worked tirelessly, displaying a strong spirit of service.

Overall, it was a meaningful experience for everyone involved.

Thank you…