RESONANCE – Words without Borders: A Celebration of Language and Culture
Patna Women’s College hosted RESONANCE – ‘Words without Borders,’ a vibrant two-day Language and Literature Festival on April 3rd and 4th, 2025, at B.J. Sullivan Hall. This event was organized by the Departments of English, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Urdu, in collaboration with the ‘Lit Wit’ Literary Society.
The festival served as a platform for students, educators, and cultural enthusiasts to come together and celebrate the rich diversity and beauty of languages through an array of activities that revolved around poetry, music, dance, drama and film.
The Inaugural Session, started with the customary lighting of the Lamp. Attendees were treated to a series of soulful performances, including a captivating Sanskrit song (Durga Stotra), an English welcome song, and cultural medleys that showcased both foreign and local languages. Dr. Sahar Rahman, Head of the Department of English, delivered a welcome address, setting the tone for the festivities. Mr. Vivek Kr Singh, Rtd IAS & Chairman, RERA, Bihar was the chief guest and Prof. Arun Kamal, Sahitya Akademi awardee poet and former Head, Department of English was the Guest of Honour. Dr Sister M. Tanisha A.C, the Vice Principal of Patna Women’s College and Dr Sister M. Jincy A.C, Superior, Avila Convent were present on the occasion. They shared their insights on the significance of language and literature festivals. The session concluded with a graceful Korean Fan Dance and a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Devina Krishna.
A highlight of the inaugural session was the inauguration of the Bhasha Voyage Exhibition, which celebrated the myriad languages and dialects of India and beyond. The exhibition featured interactive displays, showcasing the history, evolution, and cultural significance of various languages, like German, French, Spanish and Korean, done by the students of Add on Courses in German, French, Spanish and Korean languages. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with exhibits that included traditional scripts, literary works, and multimedia presentations, fostering a deeper appreciation for linguistic diversity.
Mehfil, the poetry session witnessed beautiful rendition of poetry from across languages, both Indian and foreign. Another highlight of this event was ‘Baitbaazi’, which is the inspiration behind the popular Antaakshri.
The second day of the festival opened with,’Jirah’ the Debate Competition conducted in both Hindi and English, followed by ‘Rangmanch’,a Skit Competition featuring performances in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Sanskrit. After a brief lunch break, participants showcased their creativity in ‘The Reel Deal’, a Reel-Making Competition.
The Valedictory Session was graced by Prof. Shalini Registrar, Patna University, and Dr. Vinayak Yashraj, Associate Professor, NIFT Patna and other distinguished guests. This session featured a vibrant K-pop Dance Performance, inspiring speeches, and the distribution of prizes for various competitions, including Poster Making, Extempore, Debate, and Reel Making.
The festival concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks by Dr. Deepika Tiwari and the singing of the National Anthem, leaving behind a resonant message of unity in diversity through the power of language and literature.
