Winners of Mr and Mrs LIT 2026 along with other contestants during the maiden LIT Fest 2026 programme held at the SJU auditorium on September2.
Chümoukedima, September 4 (MExN): The Department of English at St Joseph University, Nagaland, in collaboration with the Literary Club and Drama Club, organised the inaugural edition of its two-day literary festival, "LIT Fest 2026", on September 1 and 2 at the university auditorium.
Held under the theme "Words that Echo through Eternity", the festival brought together students and faculty members across diverse academic departments for literary, cultural, and artistic showcases.
Inaugurating the festival, Head of the Department of English Dr. Thokchom Sunanda Devi urged students to view competitions as learning platforms rather than merely avenues for winning, noting that failure provides crucial opportunities to identify weaknesses and grow.
Describing the participants as "history makers" for pioneering the university's first literary fest, she encouraged them to perform with confidence. The opening ceremony also featured a theatrical performance titled "Chaos Behind a Successful Programme" by the Drama Club, highlighting themes of collective effort, unity, and coordination.
The opening day featured a mix of academic, cultural, and e-sports competitions, including singing, monologue, poetry painting, dance, extempore speech, a bread-eating contest, as well as gaming events like BGMI, MLBB, and Ludo.
Day two commenced with a debate competition on the topic: "The right to protest and reservation: Are they instruments of justice and equality?", where participants deliberated on contemporary social realities and constitutional rights.
A central highlight of the concluding day was the "Mr. and Miss LIT" contest, which saw 16 contestants competing across introduction rounds featuring traditional attire, informal rounds, and formal Q&A segments evaluating stage presence, clarity of thought, and articulation.
H Hanthu Yimchunger was crowned Mr LIT 2026, with Nguruh V Wilfred finishing as first runner-up. In the women’s division, Jacinda Odyuo won the Miss LIT 2026 title, while Neingunuo Kire finished as the first runner-up.
The festival concluded with a valedictory prize distribution ceremony where trophies and certificates were handed out to winners across all contested categories.
