Each campus has its own defining moments, the ones that unite the students, ignite imagination, and stay etched for a lifetime once the event itself is over. For Parul University, such a moment is Dhoom. An annual cultural extravaganza that does the fullest justice to its name in every sense of the word. A light extravaganza, laughter fest, and talent bonanza, Dhoom is more than just a tradition. It's a celebration of identity, youth, art, and expression.
With scores of students taking part from all the disciplines, Dhoom is the most eagerly awaited event in the university calendar. With theatre and fashion, music and poetry, dance and digital art, the fest unites all creative voices on campus. It is a celebration that provides a platform where each talent finds its place.
The Pulse of Parul: What Dhoom Stands For
Dhoom is the trailer of an extravagant student life, community, and cultural diversity. That's where the students get away from the formality of the classroom and enter a less formal, collaborative, and dynamic space. With just students and some faculty accompaniment, it provides young minds with a platform to lead, perform, and excel.
The event is a testimony to the Parul University culture of holistic education. It understands that leadership, creativity, and confidence like to flourish in an environment that is liberal and encourages creativity. Dhoom gives students a chance to not only showcase their talent but also develop event management, leadership, and team-building competencies.
The Events: A Showcase of Talent and Diversity
The beauty of Dhoom is the rich tapestry of activities, each one a new opportunity for self-expression. A look at the vast list of competitions and performances that illuminate the festival annually:
1. Fashion Show: Walk Tall on the Catwalk
The fashion show is perhaps the most decadent and visually arresting part of Dhoom. Students across different faculties strut down the runway, wearing ensembles based on themes ranging from ethnic fusion to green fashion, contemporary streetwear to cultural stories. It is more than a showcase of fashion, as the show becomes a tool of expression, with clothing, concept, and confidence expressed together to narrate interesting stories. Every performer understands their theme with intent, frequently taking on topics such as eco-awareness, women's empowerment, or cultural pride. The air is charged with an excited crowd, many of whom are dressed in celebratory outfits, contributing to the atmosphere and turning the fashion show into one of the most eagerly anticipated and memorable parts of the whole fest.
2. Dance Performances: When Rhythm Takes Over
Dance at Dhoom is a celebration of diversity and expression. From the elegance of traditional Indian forms to hip-hop battles and Bollywood fusion, every performance is an extension of an individual's artistic voice. Both solo and ensemble performances are the product of weeks of hard work, attention to detail, and artistic collaboration. The performances are more than mere entertainment but a forceful expression of culture, emotion, and storytelling through movement. Whether it is a Kathak work based on spirituality or a choreographed piece on mental health awareness, every act adds depth and purpose to the stage, providing dance as a meaningful and dynamic highlight of the festival.
3. Singing and Music: Voices that Resonate
Music is the heartbeat of the campus during Dhoom, resonating from every corner with lively energy. Acts like rock band showdowns, fusion performances, and soulful acoustic sets repeatedly attract big and excited crowds, making them among the most looked forward to features of the festival. Students engage in an assortment of musical acts, from solo voices to duets and band formations. The variety of genres is impressive, from regional folk songs and English ballads to rap acts and instrumental solos. These musical performances do more than entertain; they are an outlet for students to express themselves creatively through melody and rhythm, conveying their thoughts, feelings, and heritage.
4. Theatre and Drama: The Power of Performance
Theatre performances at Dhoom provide a strong platform for expression, typically characterized by symbolic richness and emotional intensity. Student drama clubs offer a diverse set of productions, ranging from stage plays to street performances (nukkad nataks) and mime performances, each dealing with significant themes of student life, identity, social justice, and change. These shows are experiential storytelling events in which acting, stagecraft, and scriptwriting come together to present engaging stories. Theatre at Dhoom engages students to think through difficult issues using creative expressions, sometimes challenging conventional thinking, and inviting introspection. Without exception, these musing performances etch themselves indelibly in the minds of the audience, making theatre one of the festival's most intellectually stimulating and emotionally evocative strands.
5. Spoken Word and Poetry: Words from the Heart
The poetry slams and spoken word events at Dhoom provide a more subdued but no less influential aspect to the fest's lively mood. During these sessions, students perform original pieces, typically in English, Hindi, Gujarati, and Urdu, on themes that range from love, loss, social reform, mental illness, identity, and aspiration. These performances provide a personal, introspective space where silent thoughts gain a voice. With minimal stage design, the focus continues to be on language, emotion, and performance. Every show is a testament to the powerful impact of words and the importance of genuine self-expression.
6. Stand-Up Comedy: Laughter as a Language
Stand-up comedy at Dhoom offers a fresh and light-hearted take on the festival. Through clever observations on mundane college life, relationships, popular culture, and the idiosyncrasies of university life, up-and-coming student comedians get their chance in the spotlight to amuse and bond with fellow students. As a recent phenomenon of student fests, stand-up comedy is a much-needed platform for artistic expression. Dhoom provides these artists with a rich opportunity to express their voices, views, and personalities. While many are light-hearted, most of them use satire and observational humor to present serious questions in ways that make people question their assumptions without even realizing it, bringing both smiles and epiphanies.
7. Visual Arts: Painting, Photography, and Installations
Exhibitions at Dhoom bring forth a remarkable spectrum of student creativity, including traditional canvas artwork and digital paintings, as well as evocative photo stories. The subject matter is wide-ranging and diverse, giving artists full creative control to interpret the world through their own worldview. Photography contests capture poignant moments in student life, human emotion, nature, and abstracts, each image a story in itself. Besides, some students feature socially motivated art installations with the intention of creating awareness of social issues and promoting further introspection. Such visual presentations bring a relevant and reflective aspect to the fest, supporting the notion that art can be both stunning and powerful.
8. Grand Concerts and Star Nights
The grand finale of Dhoom is highlighted by the much-awaited concert nights, a thrilling end to the festival's lively celebration.
With the performances of top artists, DJs, and music bands, these concerts bring together the whole student community in one atmosphere of excitement and energy. The performances this year attracted thousands of students to the open grounds, where they danced and celebrated together under the stars. For most, these night-outs are memories they cherish for a lifetime, a defining moment of their university life, a flash of sheer joy, togetherness, and celebration that conveys the essence of Dhoom in the best possible way.
Learning Behind the Spotlight
What tends to go unsung, though equally important, is the careful planning and work that is involved in staging Dhoom. From the conceptual stage to the last curtain call, right through the entire festival, student committees oversee everything. The teams are responsible for all aspects, from budgeting, logistics, and stage to event coordination, hospitality, sponsorships, publicity, and crowd control. This first-hand experience provides students with a unique chance to acquire skills in the real world. It gives them a chance to test leadership, communication, teamwork, crisis management, and decision-making in a high-energy, high-pressure setting. For some, the most memorable learning doesn't occur on stage but off, as they assist in creating the fest from scratch.
With students from all over India and more than 70 nations, Parul University is a dynamic cultural melting pot. Dhoom too represents this diversity by making inclusivity and representation central to its purpose. Multilingual performances, cultural wear, and heritage exhibits provide every voice and heritage its own place to be heard and celebrated. Highlights such as the international student parade, food stalls representing different regions, and folk music sessions make Dhoom a real cultural melting pot. These vignettes not only celebrate global customs but also engender mutual respect and tolerance between students of diverse backgrounds, cementing the spirit of oneness that characterizes the Parul University community.
Memories, Bonds, Transformation
While the lights, music, and drama of Dhoom are not soon forgotten, it is the memories and personal achievements that linger on with students long after the fest has ended.
From bonding with new friends during rehearsals to feeling the rush of going on stage for the very first time, Dhoom makes an impact that goes far beyond university life. Most alumni look back at Dhoom as a moment in their development, a period in which they discovered new talents, broke out of stage fright, or made their entry into leadership roles. It's not an occasion; to many students, it is a transformative experience that builds confidence, imagination, and lifelong relationships.
A Fest That Grows with Each Year
With every new edition, Dhoom gets bigger, more inclusive in participation, and more innovative in presentation. New categories of events are added on a regular basis based on student demand, such as short film competitions, digital painting wars, and content challenges, making the festival vibrant and contemporary.
Though the format keeps changing, the spirit remains the same: a celebration of creativity, expression, and student initiative. The organizing committees always introduce new ideas while maintaining the very spirit that makes the fest an integral part of campus culture.
Dhoom Is Not Just a Fest but a Legacy
Dhoom is the rhythmic pulse of campus life, an expression of its multicultural student body, and a platform where imagination meets ambition.
It brings out the best in all, from a first-year student finding his or her voice to a final-year student leaving his or her mark for the last time. Year by year, Dhoom increases in size and fervour, inspiring students further, entertaining them more, and empowering them further. It is a strong reminder that university life is not merely study and exams, but also celebration, art discovery, and the boldness to be themselves. Because when the lights are bright and the music plays, all Parul University students know it's their time to emerge, to shine, and to be noticed.
