25/08/2026
*Celebrating the Vibrant Colours of Punjabi Culture at Shanti Devi Arya Mahila College, Dinanagar*
Shanti Devi Arya Mahila College, Dinanagar, came alive with the vibrant colours, traditions, music, and cultural heritage of Punjab as it organised a grand Teeyan Mela along with an Alumni Meet on 23 August 2026. The event was organised under the able leadership of Principal *Dr. Sarla Nirankari,* Vice Principal *Prof. Sunita Verma,* and Secretary of the Managing Committee, *Shri Dharam Indu Gupta.* The programme was conducted under the guidance of *Dr. Deepak Jyoti,* Dean, Youth Welfare Department, *Prof. Jyoti Saini,* Coordinator, *Prof. Jagdish Kaur,* Head, Department of Punjabi, and *Prof. Hardeep Kaur,* Head, Department of Library Science and Heritage.
The programme commenced with Jyoti Prajwalan, followed by the soulful rendition of a traditional Shabad, creating an auspicious beginning to the celebration. The occasion was graced by *Ms. Adeeba Anam, IAS, DGRO Gurdaspur 2025,* as the Chief Guest. *Dr. Nirmal Pandhi,* *Dr. Kulwinder Kaur Cheena, Mrs. Namita Gupta, Mrs. Sunita Ohri, Dr. Trikha, Parveen Baba, and Mamta Baba* attended as Special Guests. The celebration was further enlivened by the presence of *Priya Singh Preet,* a renowned Punjabi comedian, content creator, and social media influencer.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, *Principal Dr. Sarla Nirankari* presented them with mementoes as a mark of honour and expressed her happiness at bringing the rich traditions of Punjab to life on the college campus. She encouraged the students to remain connected with their historical and cultural heritage and to preserve the values and traditions passed down through generations.
Adding a melodious touch to the festivities, college student *Palak,* winner of Voice of Punjab, presented a captivating folk song that filled the atmosphere with the fragrance of Punjabi culture. Her performance was followed by the Alumni Meet, which provided a warm and memorable platform for former students to reconnect with their alma mater and share their achievements.
The distinguished alumni honoured on the occasion included *Mrs. Rajwinder Kaur, Government Senior Secondary School, Kalichpur , Mrs. Monita, G.S.S. Bariyar, Mrs. Reena Gupta, Government High School, Dala, Dr. Palvi Mahajan, Assistant Professor, Sardar Beant Singh State University ,Mrs. Renu, S.S. Mistress, Begowal, Mrs. Meenakshi, Senior Constable, Gurdaspur, and Mrs. Veenu, Hindi Teacher, DPS* . Special guests Dr. Kulwinder Kaur Cheena, Parveen Baba, and Mamta Baba, along with the sponsors *Rajiv Dogra (Kumar Studio, Resin Art), Abhinav Kansra (Main Bazaar, Dinanagar), Abhishek Mahajan, Pranav Mahajan (Phone Hub), and Samriddh Mahajan (Kumar Studio),* were also felicitated with mementoes and the traditional Punjabi Phulkari, symbolising the rich cultural heritage of Punjab.
The cultural celebrations continued with a vibrant group dance performance by college students Babita, Mansi, and Arsh, which was warmly appreciated by the audience. This was followed by an entertaining performance by *Priya Singh Preet,* whose lively comedy and impressive stage presence created an atmosphere of laughter and joy. She also presented her upcoming song “Rakhri”, adding an emotional and musical touch to the celebration.
One of the major attractions of the Teeyan Mela was the traditional Teeyan competition, celebrating the grace, beauty, confidence, and spirit of Punjabi women. The titles were awarded as follows: *Giddheyan di Rani – Dolly, Teeyan di Rani – Pooja, and Sunakhi Mutiyar – Lovleen.* The competition was judged by Dr. Kulwinder Kaur Cheena, Mrs. Rama Sharma, Principal, Vivekanand High School, and Mrs. Neeshu, Principal, K.C.M. Senior Secondary School, who performed their role with great dedication and fairness.
The event was beautifully anchored by *Dr. Neenu Sharma, Head, Department of Commerce, and college student Gurleen Kaur.* Their confident and engaging stage management kept the audience connected throughout the programme. They also expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the guests, participants, organisers, and supporters for making the celebration a memorable success.
The successful presentation of Punjabi culture and traditions was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Prof. Randeep Dhoot, Prof. Sangeeta Malhotra, Dr. Sonam Gupta, Dr. Parveen Saini, Dr. Pooja, Rukmani, and Satinderpal Kaur, along with Dr. Dimple Sharma, whose special contribution added to the grandeur of the event. The entire faculty of the college was also present on the occasion.
The Teeyan Mela and Alumni Meet proved to be a beautiful celebration of Punjabi heritage, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, distinguished guests, and members of the community. The event successfully blended tradition with contemporary expression and strengthened the bond between the institution and its former students while reminding the younger generation of the importance of preserving and celebrating their rich cultural roots.
