Panjab University faces chaos from consecutive student fests

Panjab University (PU) is experiencing a busy time with multiple student festivals scheduled close together. Recently, the first fest, "Vimarsh," took place on March 17 and 18. The next fest, “Jhankar,” is currently happening, and another one is planned for March 23 to 25. The campus has seen significant noise and rowdy behavior during these events. Many students have complained that the loud celebrations make studying difficult. Avtar Singh from the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) emphasized these concerns, noting that loud music has been disturbing students' study time. PU vice-chancellor Renu Vig acknowledged the issue but stated that academic activities continue alongside the festivals. She plans to ask for more control over noise levels and the presence of non-students during events. The university has guidelines that limit noise to 50 decibels and require that events end by 10 PM. In addition, police have deployed around 50 officers to manage larger festivities and traffic caused by outside visitors. Organizers must get permission for events, and cultural activities are viewed as important for student education, according to Amit Chauhan, dean of student welfare. There is also concern about counterfeit concert passes for the Jhankar fest, featuring Punjabi singer Arjan Dhillon. PUCSC president Anurag Dalal alerted students about scammers selling fake tickets online for excessive prices. He clarified that actual entry is free for PU students, while printed passes issued on the event day are for invited guests only.