18th Dastak Youth Festival 2026 Wraps Up with Prize Distribution and Student Celebrations
The three-day 18th Dastak Youth Festival 2026 concluded on Thursday at the International Buddha Research Institute in Lucknow, marked by the distribution of trophies and celebratory selfies among participants. The event successfully brought together students from numerous educational institutions to honor creativity and talent through a wide array of competitive activities.
Organizational Collaboration and Festival Highlights
Organized by Dastak Manch in partnership with the UP Tourism Department, Yuva Club, and Eco Tourism initiatives, the festival featured an extensive lineup of contests. These included debate, extempore speech, dance, short film making, photography, and visual arts, providing a platform for young minds to showcase their skills.
Final Day Competitions and Judging
The final day commenced with an extempore competition, where judges Anuja, Rashmi, and Peeyush evaluated participants based on content quality, confidence, and articulation. This was followed by a solo dance competition that displayed a variety of styles and story-based performances, with judges Kuljeet and Mridula Bhardwaj assessing technique and expression.
Winners Across Various Categories
In the results, Dorcas Tembo and Atharva Sharma clinched first place in the debate competition. Pannavi Srivastava secured second position in the rangoli contest, while Adarsh Chauhan emerged as the winner in short film making. Other notable achievements included Stuti Gupta placing third in collage making and Ayushi Pushp taking first place in face painting.
Nivedita Patel, who won the extempore contest, expressed her delight at the recognition of her talent, highlighting the festival's role in encouraging young performers.
Afternoon Sessions Focused on Cinema and Media
The afternoon sessions were dedicated to cinema and media events, featuring short film making and news report presentations. These segments were judged by Rashid Mohammad and Tariq Khan, who provided expert feedback on the entries. Additionally, the photography final, evaluated by Anil Risal Singh and Mohammad Ahsan, emphasized strong visual storytelling and artistic perspective.
Reflections and Future Aspirations
Dastak Manch co-founder and coordinator Sangita Jaiswal remarked that the enthusiastic participation from students reflected the significant impact of the festival. She expressed optimism that next year's edition would introduce another engaging theme to further inspire creative thinking and innovation among the youth.
The festival not only celebrated artistic and intellectual prowess but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration among participants, setting a positive precedent for future events.
