Dastak fest ends with short film, photography contests

Lucknow: Distribution of trophies and celebratory selfies marked conclusion of the three-day 18th Dastak Youth Festival 2026 at the International Buddha Research Institute, on Thursday. Ending with prize distribution, the event brought together students from multiple educational institutions to celebrate creativity and talent across a range of competitive events.Organised by Dastak Manch in collaboration with UP Tourism Department, Yuva Club and Eco Tourism initiatives, the festival featured contests spanning debate, extempore speech, dance, short film making, photography and visual arts.
The final day began with an extempore competition judged by Anuja, Rashmi and Peeyush, who evaluated participants on content, confidence and articulation. A solo dance competition followed, showcasing diverse styles and story-based performances. Judges Kuljeet and Mridula Bhardwaj assessed performers on technique and expression.In the results, Dorcas Tembo and Atharva Sharma secured first place in debate, while Pannavi Srivastava finished second in the rangoli competition. Adarsh Chauhan won first place in short film making, Stuti Gupta placed third in collage making and Ayushi Pushp took first place in face painting. Nivedita Patel, winner of the extempore contest, said she was delighted with the recognition of her talent.Afternoon sessions focused on cinema and media events, including short film making and news report presentations, judged by Rashid Mohammad and Tariq Khan. The photography final, evaluated by Anil Risal Singh and Mohammad Ahsan, highlighted strong visual storytelling and artistic perspective.Dastak Manch co-founder and coordinator Sangita Jaiswal said enthusiastic participation reflected the festival's impact. She expressed hope that next year's edition would introduce another engaging theme to further inspire creative thinking among students.