The University of Jammu is going to organise 3rd edition of its flagship multi-genre youth festival, Goonj 2026 from today. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinah, who is also the Chancellor of Jammu University, will inaugurate the festival, while the Valedictory Function will be graced 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 journey of Goonj was started in 2024 and the initiative was conceived with a clear vision, to promote holistic development of students and to build a deeper sense of belongingness within the University community. Platforms like Goonj enable students to discover their potential through participation, interaction and collective engagement. Around 600 students from Teaching Departments, off-site campuses, Affiliated Colleges and neighboring Universities have registered for participation this year and the number is expected to increase further.  

 

The Goonj provides a unique opportunity for showcasing 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 healthy academic spirit and mutual learning among departments. The Goonj 2026 comprises three major segments – Sports, Cultural Activities and the Best Practices Showcase. Under the Best Practices component, departments will be evaluated in two stages by a six-member jury from different organisations. This year a new component, an Exhibition of Rare and Best-Selling Books, has been introduced to promote reading habits among students.