Agri varsity kicks off inter-college youth festival
Celebrating the state’s rich cultural legacy, the Inter-College Youth Festival 2024-25 kicked off at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). Organised by the Directorate of Students’ Welfare, a colourful cultural procession, a blend of modernity and tradition, marked the formal inauguration of the fest.
Clad in traditional and stylish attires with placards in their hands, the students of five constituent colleges of PAU, Ludhiana, and one outstation college of Ballowal Saunkhri gave an outstanding performance, highlighting significant themes such as gender equality, drug menace, relishing the pleasantries of rural Punjab, discouraging migration to foreign lands, respect for the mother tongue, ushering in the return of Rangla Punjab, and promoting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a highly competitive era. Additionally, students enthralled the audience through their vocal and dancing skills in solo dance, folk songs, duet songs, western group song, light vocal solo and group song Indian.
Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab, was the chief guest, while Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor, PAU, presided over the inaugural ceremony.
Madam Lal Bagga, MLA, Ludhiana (North), was the special guest on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering of youths, Khuddian underscored the importance of sustainability, be it livelihood, agriculture or any other field, in unsustainable times. While talking about rising unemployment, the Agriculture Minister disclosed that the State government had provided employment to 45,000 youths during the past two years and was in further process to create more employability for the educated pass-outs. Together, we can give a new direction to Punjab’s future, he said to the gathering, while referring to the use of AI for solidifying the impact. The Agriculture Minister also lauded the large-scale participation of the youths in the lined-up items of youth festival.
In his presidential address, Dr Gosal observed that both off stage and on stage cultural events paved way for value addition to academics. Divulging that 500 students were participating in 48 youth fest items, the PAU V-C said that enthusiastic participation was a gateway to talent hunt as well as physical and mental well-being.
Earlier, Dr Nirmal Singh Jaura, in his welcome remarks, urged the youth to make their dreams come true by working hard and remaining undeterred in challenging times. “PAU has always been promoting art and culture among science students for their holistic development,” he added.
On the occasion, PAU V-C presented a shawl, scenery and a coffee table book “Skilling Young and Old Punjab: PAU’s Colossal Feat” to the Punjab Agriculture Minister as a token of regard.
Results
On the spot painting: Surmeet Kaur (Agriculture-A), Vidhi Kashypal (Horticulture-H) and Punya Sood (Community Science -CS)
Mehandi: Ankita Dewangan (H), Alisha Thapa (A) and Arsheen Kaur (Agriculture Institute, Bathinda)
Calligraphy (Hindi): Pragati (CS), Prabhjeet Kaur (H) and Ayush Pal (Agriculture College, Ballowal Saunkhri).
Calligraphy (English): Radhika Mittal (CS), Ishika Verma (Basic Sciences-BS) and Jaismeen Kaur (A).
Calligraphy (Punjabi): Prabhjot Singh (BS), Jashanpreet Singh (H) and Arsheen Kaur (AI, Bathinda).
Debate: Colleges of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering (AE) and Basic Sciences earned the top three positions. Yashika (CS) and Tarun Kapoor (A) were adjudged as the best debators for the motion and against the motion, respectively.
Cartooning: Harsimran Kaur (CS), Harmandeep Singh (A) and Muskan Paul (A)
Rangoli: Jaismeen Kaur (A), Chahak Jain (BS) and Chuniya Goyal (H)
Solo dance: Jasnoor Kaur (CS), Navpreet Kaur (H) and Shivangi (AE)
