Beyond the Books: 4 Days of Culture and Creativity at MKBU's Bhav Gunjan 2025
BHAV GUNJAN YOUTH FESTIVAL 2025
Introduction
University life isn't just about academics, and events like Bhav Gunjan remind us of that beautifully. It's a chance for the city to see the creativity buzzing within MKBU and for students absorbed in studies to witness the incredible artistic talents of their peers. Here's my take on the highlights and reflections from this year's festival.
Festival Schedule at a Glance:
Day 1: Kicking Off with Kala Yatra (October 8th)
The festival traditionally began with the energetic Kala Yatra. Starting from Shamaldas Arts College and winding its way to Sardarnagar, this procession is where students creatively showcased pressing social themes. This year, we saw powerful representations addressing the surge in rape cases, celebrating Gujarat's cultural identity, highlighting challenges within the education system, and critiquing the negative impacts of social media. The standout performance, winning the competition, was Operation Sindhoor presented by Swami Sahajanand College.
Day 2: Inauguration and Diverse Performances (October 9th)
After the formal Opening Ceremony attended by the Vice-Chancellor and other dignitaries, the day unfolded with a whirlwind of simultaneous events across different venues – skit, mimicry, folk dance, quiz competitions, and more. It was tough choosing what to see!
Live streams captured some fantastic moments:
SURGUNJAN Performances (New Court Hall):
RASAGUNJAN Event (Atal Auditorium):
ADIVASINRITYA (Tribal Dance) Performances:
These vibrant dances beautifully showcased Gujarat's heritage, often narrating stories from folk poetry and epics – literature brought to life through movement.
Spotlight on English Department Achievements:
Our department shone brightly today! Radhika Mehta and Shruti Sonani delivered a wonderful performance in the Folk Group singing event.
Simultaneously, hosted within our own department, the Quiz Competition saw our seniors Rajdeep Bavaliya, Rutvi Pal, and Sanket Vavadiya clinch the 2nd prize! A proud moment for all of us.
Skits Reflecting Modern India:
One notable skit, titled "GenZ Panchayat," cleverly juxtaposed modern youth culture (Gen Z, tech references like 'G.P.T') with traditional Indian governance (Panchayat). The backdrop, featuring a map of India and wings, suggested youthful aspirations for the nation. It felt like a mix of patriotism and satire, perhaps best viewed through Dryden's idea of a play as a "lively image of human nature" combined with a touch of Ben Jonson's Comedy of Humours, satirizing the defining 'humours' or obsessions of the generation (optimism, tech-focus).
Another skit presented a comical yet poignant commentary on modern India's obsession with fame and wealth. A grandfather returns from heaven, bewildered by the focus on figures like Anant Ambani and Shubman Gill. The prominent clock symbolized the passage of time and generational shifts. This blend of humor and underlying seriousness felt akin to Irving Wardle's "Comedy of Menace," balancing the funny absurdity with the 'menace' of mortality and changing values. There were also elements of Absurd Theatre, highlighting the potential meaninglessness of modern pursuits through the grandfather's eyes.
Day 3: A Tapestry of Arts and Ideas (October 10th)
The third day was packed with diverse and captivating events, including one-act plays, debates, mime, instrumental music, fine arts, classical dance, and creative choreography. The quiz finals also took place, solidifying our department team's second-place win!
Dramatic and Theatrical Highlights:
EKANKI (One-Act Play): These performances often adapt literary works, bringing characters and themes to life.
"Ganga: Roar of Justice" – A Powerful One-Act Play:
Performed powerfully by The KPES College (written by Anopsinh Sarvaiya, directed by Vipul Rathod & Jibril Parmar, guided by Prof. Jagat Bhatt), this play was a hard-hitting social commentary. Set against stark mythological imagery (Shiva and Kali), it depicted the abuse of trust by a religious figure and the systemic failure allowing it. The protagonist, Ganga, a marginalized girl, fights for justice against immense odds. This intense piece focused on defiance and female empowerment, moving beyond victimhood. Her eventual success felt like a profound victory. Analysing it through Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy, the play presents a serious plot with suffering (pathos), evokes pity and fear, and offers a cathartic release through the final attainment of justice.
MIME Performances:
Telling stories without words, mime often visually interprets literary themes.
Mimicry Highlight – Nandish Padia's Winning Performance:
The mimicry performances were amazing, and Nandish Padia truly outshone everyone. His winning performance used incredible audio-visuals to narrate the Ramayana from the perspective of Time (Samay). This cosmic viewpoint, combined with mesmerizing visuals and sound, offered a profound reflection on destiny and human virtue, connecting ancient epic with modern expression.
Musical and Dance Performances:
Western Instrumental (Solo & Group): Showcasing talent in Western musical traditions.
Western Singing Group – K.P.E.S. College:
Students from K.P.E.S. College delivered a captivating performance in the Western Singing category. Their coordinated attire and harmonies showcased diverse talents and highlighted the festival as a platform for contemporary global art forms alongside traditional ones.
SHASTRIYA NRITYA (Classical Dance):
Embodying stories from ancient literature and mythology.
This performance captured the Raudra Bhava (emotion of intensity/anger) evoking the Veer Rasa (heroism/courage).
The Rhythmic Heart of Gujarat: Folk Orchestra
Dressed in colorful kediyus and turbans, young musicians filled the air with the sounds of Dhol, Dholak, and tabla. The highlight was the infectious "Sarkari" beat, a staple of Gujarati folk music, proving the enduring power and energy of traditional orchestras.
Creative Choreography:
Innovative routines blending styles, often interpreting literary themes through movement. The performances based on Draupadi, re-imagining her story with agency and strength, were particularly striking.
CLASSICAL SINGING (SOLO):
Sandip Jethva's Mesmerizing Flute Performance:
A moment of pure serenity came from our classmate Sandip Jethva. His performance of Raag Bhupali on the flute (bansuri) was breathtaking, creating an atmosphere of peace and reminding us of the timeless beauty within our culture.
Folk Dance – The Art of the Matki:
Performances like the folk dance with girls balancing matkis (pots) were rich with literary and aesthetic connections. Analyzed through Rasa theory, they evoked wonder (Adbhutha Rasa), beauty (Shringara Rasa), and perhaps peace (Shanta Rasa). The matki itself is a potent symbol in Indian literature – representing feminine daily life, the body housing the soul (in mystical poetry), and abundance (kumbha). The vibrant costumes (Alankara) further enhanced the regional identity and aesthetic appeal.
Raas Performance – Divine Play in Motion:
The stage came alive with an electrifying Raas performance. Dressed in traditional ghagra-cholis and kediyus, students wielded dandiyas, creating the iconic rhythmic clack. Linked to Lord Krishna and the Gopis, Raas symbolizes divine play (leela) and brought departments together in a thrilling display of teamwork and cultural pride.
Intellectual and Artistic Pursuits:
Debate: Our English Department representatives, Shehzad Chokiya and Bhargav Makwana, debated compellingly on current political and media topics.
Literary and Cultural Event:
A moment of quiet reverence. Surrounded by standees of great Indian writers and poets, with musical accompaniment, this event felt like being in a hall of fame, connecting literary legacies to living art forms.
Fine Arts Corner:
Senior Krishna Vala participated in Clay Modelling. Her piece featuring a hut (kothi) and well (kuva) beautifully captured the theme of rural simplicity. The aestheticism lay in the raw texture and minimalist folk-art form, subtly teaching the value of tradition and basic resources.
Classmate Vanita Baraiya created a stunning painting using recycled newspaper. This was a brilliant example of the Aesthetics of Sustainability, transforming waste into a textured, visually rich piece. Her choice of material was inherently didactic, teaching resourcefulness and eco-consciousness through art.
Day 4: Culmination and Celebrations (October 11th)
The final day brought the festival to a close, marked by concluding activities and the much-awaited prize distributions. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as students gathered to celebrate their achievements and witness the recognition of their peers' incredible talents.
Celebrating Our Winners:
A highlight was seeing our seniors, Rajdeep Bavaliya, Rutvi Pal, and Sanket Vavadiya, receive their medals and certificates for securing 2nd place in the Quiz Competition. They were joined by our professors, Prakruti Bhatt ma'am and Megha Trivedi ma'am, for the proud moment. This achievement wasn't just a personal victory – it represented the intellectual rigor and collaborative spirit of our entire department.
Festival Moments and Reflections
My Personal Feelings and Emotions Regarding Bhav Gunjan Youth Festival 2025:
Seeing my own friends, classmates, and seniors contribute to the atmosphere – whether performing, competing, or volunteering – connected us all to something much larger than just a college event. From Sandip's serene flute melody and Nandish's mesmerizing mimicry to the powerful skits and the sheer joy of the folk dances, the entire festival was a vivid, emotional, and intellectually stimulating experience.
Quiz winners felicitated by Dr. Dilip Barad, Head of the English Department.
I felt a strong connection to our culture, a deep pride in my peers, and a renewed appreciation for how art tells our story. It was the perfect initiation into the university community, and I'm already looking forward to the next one!
Departmental Pride:
Here's a snapshot of the participants and volunteers from The Department of English, alongside our supportive professors. This collective photograph captures not just faces, but the spirit of teamwork, intellectual curiosity, and cultural engagement that defines our department.
More Glimpses:
Here are some other colourful moments captured during the festival, each frame preserving the energy, passion, and cultural richness that made Bhav Gunjan 2025 truly memorable:
Conclusion
The Bhav Gunjan Youth Festival 2025 was more than just a cultural event – it was a celebration of heritage, creativity, and community. From the opening procession of Kala Yatra to the final prize distributions, every moment reinforced the vital role that arts and culture play in education and personal development.
What made this festival particularly special was its ability to bridge the traditional and the contemporary, the classical and the modern. Whether it was Sandip's classical flute performance, the folk orchestra's traditional beats, or the Western singing groups' contemporary harmonies, the festival demonstrated that cultural expression thrives when we honor our roots while embracing innovation.
For those of us in the Department of English, the festival offered unique opportunities to witness literature coming alive through performance. The skits, plays, and dances weren't just entertainment – they were interpretations of cultural narratives, social commentaries, and artistic expressions that deepened our understanding of how art communicates meaning.
As we look back on these four incredible days, we carry forward not just memories and photographs, but a renewed sense of cultural pride, artistic appreciation, and community belonging. The festival reminded us that university life is indeed more than academics – it's about discovering ourselves, celebrating our heritage, and creating connections that last a lifetime.
To everyone who performed, organized, volunteered, and cheered – thank you for making Bhav Gunjan 2025 an unforgettable experience. Until next year, when we gather again to celebrate the boundless creativity and vibrant spirit of our university community!
THANK YOU!
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