The University of Jammu is set to organize the 3rd edition of its flagship multi-genre youth festival, Goonj 2026, starting today. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chancellor of Jammu University, will inaugurate the festival, while the concluding ceremony will be attended by Professor Bechan Lal, former Vice-Chancellor of Cluster University and Advisor to the Governor of Assam. The two-day festival will bring together students, faculty, and teaching departments on a shared platform of creativity, collaboration, and institutional pride. The Goonj initiative, which began in 2024, was conceived with a clear vision: to promote the holistic development of students and to foster a stronger sense of belonging within the University community. Platforms like Goonj enable students to discover their potential through participation, interaction, and collective engagement. Approximately 600 students from various Teaching Departments, off-site campuses, affiliated colleges, and neighboring universities have registered for participation this year, and the number is expected to increase further.
Goonj provides a unique opportunity to showcase the distinct identity and strengths of the University's 42 disciplines. Through exhibition stalls, departments will present their academic mandates, research initiatives, training activities, publications, and innovative practices. The competitive format encourages a healthy academic spirit and mutual learning among departments. Goonj 2026 comprises three major segments: Sports, Cultural Activities, and a Showcase of Best Practices. Under the Best Practices component, departments will be evaluated in two stages by a six-member jury from different organizations. This year, a new component has been introduced: an Exhibition of Rare and Best-Selling Books, aimed at promoting reading habits among students.
