ISM Patna, August 03, 2026: The International School of Management (ISM), Patna, in association with the All-India University Sports & Cultural Federation (AIUSCF), ceremoniously launched the UNIFESTA-2026 Trophy during the Bharat Kala Kumbh: UNIFESTA-2026 Trophy Launching Ceremony, formally heralding the commencement of preparations for one of India's largest inter-university cultural festivals.
The event marked the official announcement of UNIFESTA-2026, an All-India University Cultural Festival that seeks to celebrate India's rich artistic heritage while providing a prestigious national platform for young creative talent from universities across the country.
The programme was organised under the leadership of Vice Chairman Shri Deval Singh and the guidance of Dr. Sweta Rani, Academic Head, and Ms. Neeru Kumari, Administrator, IQAC Coordinator, and UNIFESTA Bihar Coordinator. The event was efficiently coordinated and gracefully compered by Ms. Swati Savarn, Coordinator, Cultural Committee.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by a distinguished gathering of academicians, educationists, and cultural leaders. The Chief Guest was Prof. (Dr.) Usha Vidyarthi, Principal, Khagaul Mahila College and former MLA, Paliganj; the Guests of Honour included Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar, Principal, Patna College; Dr. Sunil Kumar Singh, National Convener, All-India University Sports & Cultural Federation; Shri Umesh Singh, State Convener, UNIFESTA-2026; and noted fashion designer Dr. Aprajita Krishna.
The ceremony commenced with the traditional welcome of the guests, followed by the welcome address, ceremonial lamp lighting, and an elegant Ganesh Vandana presented by the girl students of the BBA and BCA programmes, creating a vibrant and culturally enriching atmosphere. The dignitaries were felicitated in recognition of their outstanding contributions to higher education, culture, and youth development.
Welcoming the gathering, Ms. Neeru Kumari emphasised that professional education extends beyond classroom learning and must equally nurture emotional intelligence, communication skills, stress management, and holistic personality development. She highlighted that co-curricular and extracurricular activities provide students with valuable opportunities to showcase their talents, represent their institutions with pride, and develop competencies in diverse fields such as music, dance, fine arts, cooking, and public performance. Motivating the students, she encouraged them with the spirit of "Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin" (We Are Second to None), urging them to confidently compete and excel at national platforms.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. (Dr.) Usha Vidyarthi, Principal, Khagaul Mahila College, expressed her delight at unveiling the UNIFESTA-2026 Trophy at ISM Patna. Recalling her student days, she shared that she had been the runner-up at Patna University and secured first position in the 400-metre race, emphasising how sports had instilled discipline, perseverance, and confidence in her life. She thanked the management, faculty, and staff of ISM for organising an initiative that celebrates the spirit of youth, culture, and sports.
She remarked that Bihar is steadily progressing in every sphere and stressed that true transformation begins with a positive change in mindset. Encouraging students to pursue excellence through hard work, determination, and continuous learning, she observed that today's daughters are equally capable of achieving success, possessing both physical strength and mental resilience. She urged educational institutions to promote sports alongside academics, noting that they play a vital role in shaping character, discipline, values (sanskar), and cultural consciousness (sanskriti).
Addressing the gathering, the invited speakers underlined the significance of university cultural festivals in nurturing creativity, preserving India's diverse artistic traditions, and strengthening national integration through meaningful interaction among students from different regions. They appreciated the collaborative initiative of ISM Patna and AIUSCF in creating a national platform that promotes artistic excellence, leadership, teamwork, innovation, and cultural exchange among the youth.
The defining moment of the programme was the grand unveiling of the UNIFESTA-2026 Trophy, symbolising the official countdown to the much-awaited national cultural extravaganza. The unveiling was greeted with enthusiastic applause, reflecting the excitement and anticipation surrounding the forthcoming festival.
Speaking on the occasion, the organisers announced that UNIFESTA-2026, to be organised under the banner of Bharat Kala Kumbh-2026, will be hosted in Patna, Bihar, from 1 to 5 December 2026. The five-day festival will bring together talented university students from across India to compete in a diverse range of cultural events, including dance, vocal and instrumental music, drama, fine arts, folk arts, anchoring, and fashion show. The festival is envisioned as a grand celebration of India's cultural diversity while fostering creativity, innovation, leadership, and camaraderie among the nation's youth.
The organisers expressed confidence that UNIFESTA-2026 would emerge as one of the country's premier university cultural festivals, offering young artists an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their talent, exchange creative ideas, and strengthen the spirit of national unity through culture and the arts.
The programme concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Shatakshi, who expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests, organisers, faculty members, students, media representatives, and all stakeholders for contributing to the successful launch of UNIFESTA-2026.
