Chunauti 2025: A celebration of youth, culture, and creativity

The much-anticipated Inter-school Fest — Chunauti 2025 — unfolded with immense grandeur on April 24-25, 2025, at Apeejay School, Saket. The festival celebrated the vibrant tapestry of cultural and intellectual expression. The two-day event provided a dynamic platform for students to showcase their diverse talents, blending creativity, tradition, and innovation. The ultimate victory in a competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best and made the most of your abilities.

Chunauti, a literary and cultural festival, was initiated in 1997 with the belief that education extends beyond the four walls of a classroom. It provides a platform for students to explore their creativity across art, dance, music, and other literary activities. The event was graced by Ms Vani Babbar, renowned singer and protégé of Ghazal maestro Shri Satish Babbar, and esteemed judges who were renowned in their respective fields. With participation from 31 Delhi-NCR schools (including Apeejay’s sister schools), Ambala Cantt, and international entries from Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, Chunauti 2025 truly reflected a global spirit.

The proceedings of the day began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Ms Babbar and the judges, who were accompanied by Dr Sujeet Eric Masih, Principal, Apeejay School Saket, amid chanting of the Saraswati Vandana by the students of the school that was appreciated by the Chief Guest. The Chief Guest, along with the judges, was presented green saplings.

Taking the podium, Dr Masih warmly welcomed the Chief Guest, praising her humility and gracious presence. He highlighted how she met every teacher with immense respect, embodying the true spirit of halimi — a down-to-earth approach. “My heartfelt gratitude to the judges, teachers, and students for making the fest a success. I encourage the students to view the festival as a journey of learning and growth. It is about improvement over competition,” he said and concluded with a blessing for all.

This was followed by a short video on what has been achieved with Chunauti thus far. At Apeejay School, Saket, dance is celebrated as the purest expression of the soul. The dance performance that followed was not just a display of movement but a vibrant celebration of spirit.

Speaking at the event, Ms Babbar shared, “I am truly grateful for being invited as the Chief Guest today. I believe motivation is essential in life; even when we are at our lowest, it can be the beginning of our greatest rise. My father always told me that as we ascend in life, we must meet everyone with respect because we never stay at the top forever. When we come down, it is that respect which supports us. My humble advice to you all: don’t compete — collaborate, because true success lies in unity.”

Ms Babbar was presented with a memento by the school Principal, who requested her to sing for all those present. Ms Babbar, in her melodious voice, sang her favourite rendition titled: Khusroo rain suhag ki jagi pi ke sang that touched all nine bhavas, or the navarasa.

Chunauti 2025 featured 15 exciting competitions designed to stimulate creativity and intellect and showcase the participants’ potential. These included Ocean Odyssey Origami Challenge, Echoes of Indian Literature, fकरदार एक अंदाज अनेक, Path to Spiritual and Physical Peace, La Poésie, Saaz, Folk Art, Natyam, Story Weavers, Historic Strokes, संस्कृत एकल श्लोक गायन प्रfतयोfगता, Naad-Brahma, Beyond The Facade, Global Launch, and Culinary Bonding (Online).

The Natyam was judged by Ms Geeta Patra and Ms Kunti Biswas, who were welcomed with green saplings. The performance by the students under this category was truly wonderful as they took to the stage to wow everyone present, whether it be the dance from Rajasthan or Punjab or even Ma Durga.

The fकरदार एक अंदाज अनेक completion also saw a huge talent pool where each student, through his/her act, played dual characters to tell their story – be it Akbar-Birbal or Vikram-Betal. Speaking about the performance of the students, judges Mr Jitendra Gaur and Mr Hemant Solanki emphasised the transformative role of performing arts, particularly theatre, in a student’s holistic development.

Mr Gaur highlighted the importance of evaluating performances based on topic relevance, authenticity in acting, and overall presentation. Mr Solanki reinforced the significance of integrating performing arts into the curriculum, noting that experiential learning helps nurture critical thinking and moves students beyond rote textbook knowledge.

The Ocean Odyssey Origami Challenge was just as brilliant. Here, students using paper had created complex shapes and designs without cutting or glueing. Ms Jyoti Sahni, one of the judges here, shared, “There are specific guidelines about what should and should not be done, and we closely observe how diligently the children are creating their work through their hard efforts. For example, in the Origami competition, participants are not allowed to use scissors or props — it must be pure handwork, showcasing their true craftsmanship.”

The judges for La Poésie were Ms Babusha Verma and Ms Neelkamal Kaushik. They shared that the competition was a wonderful experience. “All the students came well prepared, complete with props and costumes, and their hard work was visible. I was particularly impressed by the level of the students — their enthusiasm and preparation were amazing,” Ms Verma said.

“We judged a poetry competition conducted entirely in French, and I must say, it was remarkable because the students wrote and recited their poems. The judging criteria included pronunciation skills, use of props and costumes, presentation, and the ability to express emotions — crucial elements, especially since they were using a language that isn’t their mother tongue,” Ms Kaushik shared.

The Path to Spiritual and Physical Peace provided a platform for students to exhibit their strength and discipline through yoga. The participants displayed remarkable agility, seamlessly transitioning between intricate asanas with grace and strength. Their flexibility, balance, and control reflected hours of dedicated practice.

The Echoes of Indian Literature brought the literary characters like Swami and Byomkesh Bakshi to life. Here, the students were judged on: Dialogue delivery, voice modulation, and overall stage presence. The judges, Ms RP Shukla and Ms Shrishti Wani, said that they were impressed with how the children chose a wide range of characters, some of which are very distant and unfamiliar to their experiences.

“Watching students step back in time — portraying characters like Tenali Ram or Byomkesh Bakshi and immersing themselves in emotions they have never personally experienced — was truly commendable. It was mesmerising to see them bring those characters to life, and at times, I felt transported back in time myself,” Ms Shukla said.

“Introducing students to Indian literature is vital,” said Ms Wani. “Rooted in oral storytelling, our narratives naturally lend themselves to performance and dramatisation. Such events allow students to evoke emotions, not just convey information, helping them connect deeply with history and culture rather than learning in a purely intellectual manner.”

The air resonated with the melodic harmony of voices during Naad-Brahma, setting the stage for the powerful street plays in Beyond The Facade, where students reimagined negative literary characters in a positive light through compelling performances. Global Launch saw young innovators and marketers shine in a business-oriented challenge focused on product ideation and presentation. Meanwhile, the international spirit was celebrated through Culinary Bonding, an online competition highlighting cultural ties through food and tradition.

The fest concluded with a grand valedictory ceremony, where participants were honoured for their dedication, creativity, and excellence. Prizes and certificates were awarded across all categories, celebrating both individual talent and collective team spirit.

Apeejay School, Saket students (Anhad Singh Kaundal and Shubham Kumar) bagged the second prize in Naad-Brahma. The school also won the first prize in Path to Spiritual and Physical Peace; it went to Aaradhya. The overall trophy went to Indraprastha International School, Dwarka.

Chunauti 2025–2026 stood as a shining testament to the power of youth, culture, and creativity. It served not only as a platform for nurturing talent but also as a space for forging meaningful connections and lasting memories.

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