New Delhi, Oct 26 More than 450 people from Delhi-NCR with cultural, educational and personal ties to Prayagraj gathered at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for a festival celebrating the city’s cultural, literary, historical and academic heritage, organisers said in a statement on Monday.
‘Prayag Utsav 2026’, organised by Shankh Initiatives as part of ‘Prayag-Delhi Sangam 2026’, was held at the JNU Convention Centre on Sunday.
Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, who attended the valedictory session as the chief guest, highlighted Prayagraj’s cultural identity and urged people to preserve its heritage and carry its traditions forward.
He also acknowledged the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath towards preserving and promoting India’s cultural heritage.
Former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Siddharth Nath Singh, who attended the inaugural session, praised the initiative for bringing Prayagraj’s cultural and intellectual traditions to the national capital.
He said such programmes help younger generations stay connected to their roots and take pride in their cultural heritage, the statement said.
Professor Anand Shankar Singh, principal of Iswar Saran Degree College and patron of Prayag Utsav 2026, highlighted Prayagraj’s historical continuity and intellectual traditions, describing its heritage as a living legacy that continues to influence contemporary thought.
Kritika Agrawal, patron of Shankh Initiatives, stressed the importance of platforms that bring together people from different generations, academic communities and professional backgrounds to celebrate the city’s cultural and intellectual legacy.
Professor Murli Manohar Pathak, vice-chancellor of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, also highlighted India’s knowledge traditions, cultural heritage and academic dialogue.
The festival featured two panel discussions on Prayagraj’s cultural identity, literary traditions, historical significance and academic contributions.
Speakers included Dhananjay Chopra, Mrityunjay Rao Parmar, Madhu Rani Shukla, Shantanu Gupta, Raunak Gupta, Harshvardhan Tripathi, Shivendra Kumar Singh and Jitendra Mani Tripathi.
(PTI News)
