Chandigarh, November 29, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) : Punjab’s annual state inter-university youth festival will be organised at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, from November 30 to December 3 bringing together more than 2,500 students from 32 universities for four days of cultural, artistic, theatrical and musical contests. For the first time, the festival will also showcase the traditional Sikh martial art of Gatka, adding a vibrant new chapter to the state-level celebration.
Sharing details today Parminder Singh Goldy, Chairman of Punjab Youth Development Board, said the festival will feature 51 events across cultural, literary, music and fine arts categories. He added that introducing Gatka teams from different universities will highlight the state’s martial heritage and bring greater visibility to this historic art form. On the occasion Deputy Director of the Youth Services Department Kulwinder Singh, and Board Members Sanjeev Chaudhary and Navaldeep Singh were also present.
Interacting with media Goldy said the Punjab government under the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had rolled out several new initiatives for the youth including major avenues for employment and statewide programmes aimed at nurturing sports interest and participation.
He added that the objective of the festival is not only to encourage creative expression among students but also to strengthen mutual harmony, preserve Punjab’s cultural and artistic heritage and connect the younger generation with the state’s rich historical traditions.
Deputy Director Kulwinder Singh informed that more than 2,500 students from government and private universities will compete in literary, theatrical, cultural, music, dance and fine arts segments during the event.
Meanwhile, National Gatka Association of India, President, Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, former Additional Director, thanked the Punjab government and the Youth Services Department for including traditional martial art Gatka demonstrations in this year’s inter-university festival.