Times of Bennett
ArticleCampus

Passionate beginnings: Uphoria 2026 starts with a blast

Bennett University’s Uphoria cultural fest launched on Valentine’s Day 2026 under the theme “Where stories write themselves,” igniting campus-wide excitement with talent from multiple institutions. Daytime buzzed with diverse competitions: Rockymania’s Battle of Bands rocked the main stage, while Bars Mayhem rap battles, Chandrakala classical dance, Nrityakala folk groups, Kala Sangam fusion duets, Graffiti Groove art, FIFA and Tekken gaming showdowns, Comedy Clash, and media contests like Reel Rush captured creativity. Prom night bridged to evening stars—Shruti Dhasmana’s soulful hits sparked sing-alongs, followed by DJ Karmari’s pulsating beats that partied past midnight. Supernova’s fashion show dazzled with thematic narratives, and Sumit Gangwar claimed Mr. Uphoria, with Kavya Dwivedi as Ms. Uphoria.

Published:February 20, 2026 at 06:00 PM3 min read
Passionate beginnings: Uphoria 2026 starts with a blast
Correspondent: Vignesh Iyer

Valentine’s day 2026 marked the inaugural of Bennett University’s multi-day cultural fest Uphoria, painting a befitting background to this year’s theme – “Where stories write themselves”. An environment of zeal and enthusiasm had set the mood of Bennett University for the upcoming festivities. The entire campus was geared up for a vibrant showcase of talent by participants coming in from several institutions. The evening was led by electrifying celebrity performances. Popular playback singer Shruti Dhasmana, who has impressed music lovers in India with superhit Hindi songs ‘Quayamat’, ‘Paniyo Sa’ and ‘Dil Mera’ set the tone with a high-energy live act, blending soulful melodies with Valentine’s charm. Her performance, marked by crowd sing-alongs and illuminated phone flashlights, drew one of the largest gatherings of the day. The momentum intensified as DJ Karmari took over the console, shifting the mood from soulful to pulsating. With thumping electronic beats, she transformed the main stage into a high-voltage dance arena. The crowd response remained unwavering past midnight, underlining the fest’s endurance-defying spirit.
Photojournalist: Atharv Bhatt
Earlier in the evening, the prom night brought about the chemistry of Uphoria, offering students a space to celebrate shared memories. This event served as a bridge between the competitive daytime events and the celebrity-led night segment. A diverse lineup of competitions spanning music, dance, gaming, visual arts, and content creation, commenced across multiple venues on campus. ‘Rockymania’, the Battle of Bands hosted at the main stage, dominated the daytime schedule. Bands representing genres ranging from pop and indie to metal delivered original compositions and covers, featuring strong vocals, and energetic stage presence. Parallel events added variety and intensity to the schedule. ‘Bars Mayhem’, a solo rap battle, turned lyrical prowess into competitive sport as participants exchanged rapid-fire verses in a structured hip-hop showdown. ‘Chandrakala’ tested classical and folk solo dancers through multiple battle-style rounds, demanding command over taal and laya. Meanwhile, ‘Nrityakala’ at the activity stage celebrated Indian and folk group dance traditions through coordinated storytelling and authentic costuming. ‘Kala Sangam’ brought duet fusion dance to the fore, encouraging performers to showcase cohesive artistic statements. ‘Graffiti Groove’ converted blank surfaces into vibrant canvases, highlighting visual storytelling.
Photojournalist: Atharv Bhatt
The gaming contests included ‘FIFA Showdown’ and ‘Tekken Showdown’, drawing gaming enthusiasts into structured knockout formats and extended championship rounds. Simultaneously, creative media competitions including Picture Perfect, Reel Rush, and Uphoria Uncut invited participants to document the fest’s pulse through photography, short-form video, and vlogging, with selected entries slated for digital features. ‘Comedy Clash’ infused humour into the lineup through stand-up performances and improvisational acts. The title of Mr. Uphoria was won by Sumit Gangwar and Ms. Uphoria was Kavya Dwivedi. This unique talent hunt was conducted at the activity stage, which spotlighted personality, confidence, and stage presence among the contestants. Supernova, the highlight fashion show took over the spectacle, as teams curated immersive fashion narratives through thematic styling, choreographed walks, and dramatic production design.
Photojournalist: Akanksha Shree
With events spanning music, dance, gaming, art, fashion, and digital storytelling, Day 1 of Uphoria 2026 embodied both scale and stamina. By the time the final Supernova walk concluded, the campus bore witness to wonderful performances and participation. As the fest moves into its subsequent days, the opening chapter has already set a high benchmark, where stories, quite literally began writing themselves.
(This article is written by Vignesh Iyer, a Masters student of Mass Communication. He is passionate about journalism and aspires to become the editor of a leading news agency in India)
Tags
#uphoria#shruti dhasmana#bennett university#supernova#valentines

Related Articles

An enthralling book talk on Dhiraj Singh's debut novel Mater O
Article
Campus

An enthralling book talk on Dhiraj Singh's debut novel Mater O

On World Book Day 2026 at Kunzum Book Cafe, Bennett University students explored the futuristic novel Master O by Dhiraj Singh, Deputy Dean at Times School of Media. Hosted by media expert Mia Lakra, the book talk delved into the story's themes of godmen, politics, and superpowers, earning Singh the Salis Mania Best Author Award (2023). Singh passionately unpacked character symbolism drawn from real-life observations, his writing journey, and revisions to perfect the plot. Lakra's witty questions and a rapid-fire round added humor, leading to an engaging Q&A. The event ended with thanks and felicitation for Singh, Lakra, and cafe founder Ajay Jain, leaving a memorable impact.

May 2, 20263 min
#dhiraj singh#kunzum book#bennett university+2 more
Bridging Theory and Practice: Bennett University Hosts Insightful PR Session with Adfactors Executive
Article
Campus

Bridging Theory and Practice: Bennett University Hosts Insightful PR Session with Adfactors Executive

Bennett University's Times School of Media conducted a masterclass in PR and personal branding featuring Nikhil Dey, Executive Director at Adfactors PR. Students were walked through the A - Z of the public relations world through innovative interactive segments.

May 2, 20263 min
#sneh gupta#nikhil dey#dhiraj singh+3 more
'Bennett Dialogues' launched with a talk on the war in West Asia
Article
Campus

'Bennett Dialogues' launched with a talk on the war in West Asia

Times School of Media at Bennett University hosted the inaugural 'Bennett Dialogues' session, featuring West Asia expert Waiel Awwad in conversation with senior journalist Zakka Jacob. They discussed the Israel-Iran-USA conflict's global implications, including its roots in broader U.S.-China-Russia geopolitics, Israel's territorial ambitions per its scriptures, Gaza's humanitarian crisis affecting 2.6 million, and uneven global responses to events like October 7.Awwad critiqued U.S. "weapons of mass deception" over 253 years (e.g., Vietnam, Iraq, Iran), highlighted media bias with "no free media," and linked wars to economic greed over oil and chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. He shared experiences from conflict zones, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and noted India's proactive stance amid potential economic risks like inflation.The event, attended by students and faculty, ended with Deputy Dean Prof. Dhiraj Singh's vote of thanks, promoting critical thinking on international issues.

Apr 28, 20263 min
#bennett dialogues#zakka jacob#waiel awwad+3 more
TSOM Hosts Exclusive 48-Hour Photography Workshop
Article
Campus

TSOM Hosts Exclusive 48-Hour Photography Workshop

Bennett University's Times School of Media hosted an intensive 48 hour photography and filmmaking workshop in association with DIGITEK & Cineposium Initiative. Students gained insights into the art of composition, gained valuable hands on experience and won goodies.

Apr 24, 20265 min
#digitech#bennett university#media nest+4 more
BENNETT DIALOGUES launch with the War in West Asia
Article
Campus

BENNETT DIALOGUES launch with the War in West Asia

Bennett University has launched BENNETT DIALOGUES, a fortnightly talk series conceptualized by Chancellor Vineet Jain (Times Group MD) to help students grasp global geopolitical shifts. Led by Prof. Dhiraj Singh (Head, Centre for Media & Technology), it features informal fireside chats and Q&A with experts in geopolitics, business, and media. The series aims to connect world events to everyday impacts, like how the US-Israel-Iran war affects India's petrol and LPG prices. The inaugural edition on April 21 explores "The War in West Asia," with Times Now's Zakka Jacob and Dr. Waiel Awwad (Syrian-origin expert on West Asia conflicts, based in Delhi). Prof. Singh highlights its blend of Times Group media legacy and Bennett's academic excellence, benefiting media, liberal arts, business, and law students.

Apr 18, 20262 min
#dialogues#zakka jacob#dhiraj singh+3 more
A Curtain Call to Remember: Jashn-E-Cinema 2026
Article
Campus

A Curtain Call to Remember: Jashn-E-Cinema 2026

Jashn-E-Cinema 2026 embodied the university's vibrant cultural spirit through a night of unity, talent, and reflection. The highlight was BYOB Live's finale, where the audience joined in singing and swaying, blurring the stage and crowd in a shared, emotional celebration marking the year's end. The evening opened with a poignant badge ceremony honouring club leaders for their dedication, setting a reflective tone before the performances. Clubs showcased diverse talents: Advaita's energetic band set the musical rhythm; Cerebrum's witty Farzi Mushaira skit satirised poetry; Panache's ethnic-modern ramp walk dazzled visually; Verve's narrative Bollywood dance enthralled; Ansh's comedic theatre Big B chal Padhe delivered laughs; and Rivaaz's classical dance closed gracefully. Vikram Singh, Music Society Secretary, summed it up: “A great end to the year—a final goodbye, but a celebration of what we’ve built together.” The event was a farewell tapestry of collaboration, from quiet honours to explosive energy.

Apr 17, 20264 min
#ansh#advaita#panache+2 more