Passionate beginnings: Uphoria 2026 starts with a blast
Times of Bennett | Updated: Feb 25, 2026 15:44
Correspondent: Vignesh Iyer
Valentine’s day 2026 marked the inaugural ofBennett 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.
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.
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.
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)
Valentine’s day 2026 marked the inaugural of
(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)
