Creativity Takes Centre Stage at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar Talent Carnival 2026

The vibrant campus of Apeejay College of Fine Arts (ACFA), Jalandhar, came alive with creativity, music and youthful energy as Talent Carnival 2026 brought together the institution’s new students on a colourful platform to showcase their artistic abilities. The much-awaited carnival was organised with great enthusiasm and featured an inspiring presence of acclaimed singer Mr. Peji Shahkoti.

The first day of the carnival featured a range of off-stage competitions, providing first-year students from different departments an opportunity to explore and express their creativity. The competitions included on-the-spot painting, collage making, poetry recitation, elocution, photography, cartooning and clay modelling. Through these activities, students demonstrated their imagination, originality and artistic skills, transforming their ideas into expressive works.

The second day shifted the spotlight to the stage with competitions in vocal music, instrumental music, theatre and dance. Adding to the excitement was the presence of Mr. Peji Shahkoti as the chief guest. The acclaimed singer, who belongs to a distinguished musical family, is the son of renowned singer Shri Puran Shahkoti and the younger brother of Master Saleem. He has also established a name for himself in the Bollywood and Pollywood music industries.

Dr. Sucharita Sharma, Director, Apeejay Education Society, graced the occasion as the special guest. Principal Dr. Neerja Dhingra warmly welcomed the chief guest by presenting him with a floral bouquet.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Dhingra expressed her happiness at the enthusiastic participation of the students. She highlighted that the Talent Carnival goes beyond being a platform for displaying artistic abilities, as it also helps uncover the latent potential of young learners. Describing Apeejay College as an “ocean of art”, she observed that every year the institution becomes home to talented students skilled in diverse art forms, adding to the richness of this artistic environment.

She further noted that it was heartening to see the new students participate with such creativity and confidence. According to her, events of this nature not only sharpen students’ artistic abilities but also nurture confidence, discipline and other qualities that contribute to their growth across different spheres of life.

The competitions were evaluated by distinguished judges. Ms. Sarvapriya and Ms. Deepali judged the vocal music category, while Dr. Seema Sharma and Dr. Sumit Singh evaluated instrumental music. Dr. Santosh Vyas and Ms. Mannat, teacher at Apeejay School, judged the dance competitions, while Mr. Krantipal and Mr. Amandeep Singh evaluated the theatrical events. Faculty experts from the college served as judges for competitions in literature, fine arts and home science.

The proceedings were conducted with grace and confidence by Ms. Anuradha and Ms. Chetna. Dr. Dhingra appreciated the efforts of the event organisers and cultural coordinators—Dr. Arun Mishra, Dr. Amita Mishra, Dr. Monica Anand, Dr. Payal Arora and Dr. Mickey Verma—for successfully hosting the carnival. She expressed hope that their continued efforts would contribute to organising more such enriching events at the college.

With enthusiastic participation and a celebration of diverse artistic expressions, Talent Carnival 2026 emerged as a memorable beginning for the institution’s new students.