GLS University commenced its three-day Youth Fest – ‘Narrative – Unfolding Stories of Youth 2026-27’ today, bringing together students from across the University for a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, talent and youthful expression. The Youth Fest is part of the Centennial Cultural Celebration – 8th Chapter, ‘Narrative – Unfolding the Stories of Future’. The entire Youth Fest is being conducted under the guidance of President of GLS University, Shree Sudhir Nanavati, and Executive Director, Dr. Chandni Kapadia.
The first day of the three-day fest witnessed enthusiastic participation across a diverse range of competitions, giving students opportunities to express themselves through visual arts, literature, digital storytelling, public speaking, theatre and dance. The day’s events reflected the many ways in which young minds observe, interpret and narrate the world around them.
Colours and Creativity Take Centre Stage
The Fine Arts segment featured Poster Making, Collage Making, Rangoli, Clay Modelling, Face Painting and Mehendi, providing students with platforms to showcase their imagination, artistic skills and attention to detail.
The Faculty of Law hosted six of these Fine Arts competitions, with students participating enthusiastically across the different categories.
The Poster Making Competition was based on the themes ‘Sabarmati Riverfront’ and ‘Indian Heritage’, encouraging students to interpret Ahmedabad’s identity and India’s cultural richness through visual narratives.
The Collage Making Competition explored ‘Landscape of Village’ and ‘Abstract Portrait’, allowing students to experiment with composition, textures and creative visual storytelling.
The Rangoli Competition featured themes of ‘Motherhood’, ‘Fusion – Back to Root’ and ‘Any Natural’, bringing together traditional artistic expression, contemporary interpretation and the beauty of nature. The event enabled students to use colours and patterns to translate their ideas into vibrant visual compositions.
The Clay Modelling Competition explored ‘Human Form’, ‘Musical Instrument’ and ‘Urban Life’, with students transforming their concepts into expressive three-dimensional creations.
The Face Painting Competition revolved around ‘Metamorphosis – Animal’ and ‘The Divine Within’. Students explored transformation through animal-inspired designs while also interpreting spirituality, divine energy and Indian motifs through creative face art.
Adding to the traditional art forms, the Mehendi Competition followed an Any Wedding Theme, where participants showcased intricate patterns, precision and creative detailing Across the Fine Arts competitions, students demonstrated originality, artistic skill and individual perspectives through colours, textures, patterns and three-dimensional forms.
Youth Finds Its Voice Through Digital Storytelling
The first day also featured the Reel Making Competition, themed ‘Essence of Youth Fest’. Students captured the energy, atmosphere and experiences of the festival through short-form digital storytelling, bringing their own creative interpretations to the theme.
The Mobile Photography Competition invited students to capture the spirit of campus life through three themes — ‘The Spirit That We Share at GLS’, ‘Moments That Make Us’ and ‘Faces of GLS’. The competition encouraged participants to observe the people, emotions and everyday moments that collectively create the identity of the GLS community.
Words, Ideas and Imagination on the Forefront
The Literary and communication events added an intellectual and expressive dimension to Day One.
The festival featured Quiz – 1st Round, Poetry Recitation, Debate, Elocution and Poetry Completion.
The Quiz – 1st Round tested students’ knowledge, awareness and quick thinking, while Debate and Elocution provided platforms for students to articulate their thoughts and perspectives with confidence.
Through Poetry Recitation and Poetry Completion, students explored language, imagination and expression, bringing their individual interpretations and creativity to the stage.
Stories Come Alive Through Theatre and Dance
The Performing Arts segment featured Skit and Classical Dance Solo, adding energy, emotion and storytelling to the first day of the festival.
The Skit Competition provided students with a platform to present their perspectives on contemporary life and society through dialogue, theatrical movement and creative stage presentations. The performances reflected the students’ observations of the world around them and their ability to transform ideas into engaging narratives.
The Classical Dance Solo Competition showcased students’ dedication to India’s rich artistic heritage through graceful movements, expressive abhinaya, rhythmic precision and disciplined presentation. The performances brought together traditional Indian classical dance vocabulary with individual artistic expression.
A Vibrant Beginning to a Three-Day Celebration
With Poster Making, Collage Making, Quiz – 1st Round, Poetry Recitation, Reel Making, Mobile Photography, Rangoli, Clay Modelling, Debate, Skit, Classical Dance Solo, Elocution, Poetry Completion, Face Painting and Mehendi, the first day of ‘Narrative –Unfolding Stories of Youth 2026-27’ offered students a wide spectrum of opportunities to create, perform, communicate and connect.
The theme of the Youth Fest — ‘Unfolding Stories of Youth’ — came alive through the diverse narratives presented by students, while the larger Centennial Cultural Celebration theme, ‘Narrative – Unfolding the Stories of Future’, provided an overarching platform for young voices to express their ideas and aspirations.
The successful completion of Day One marked an energetic beginning to the three-day celebration. With the remaining two days bringing further competitions and cultural activities, GLS University Youth Fest 2026-27 continues its celebration of student talent, creativity, cultural appreciation and the diverse stories of today’s youth