- Student-designed Ganesha idols blend Indian tradition with contemporary design thinking
- ‘Aagaman Yatra’ fills campus with devotion, music and youthful energy
- Daily aarti fosters spiritual harmony, unity and positive energy across the GLS family
- Ganesh Utsav becomes a living classroom in creativity, teamwork and cultural responsibility
NE SPIRITUAL BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 15
When young designers become the creators of the very symbols they worship, a festival becomes more than a celebration—it becomes an expression of cultural identity. This spirit came alive at GLS University, Faculty of Design, where Ganesh Utsav 2026 unfolded as a vibrant confluence of devotion, creativity, culture and youthful enthusiasm.
Organised entirely by the student community, the celebration beautifully connected India’s rich cultural traditions with contemporary design thinking, showcasing the creative and artistic identity of the Faculty of Design.
Students and faculty members participated enthusiastically, transforming the campus into a vibrant space of faith, artistic expression and collective celebration.
The festivities began with a grand and energetic ‘Aagaman Yatra’, as traditionally dressed students welcomed Bappa to the campus amid the pulsating beats of dhol-tasha, dance and spirited chants. The combination of music, youthful energy and devotion filled the campus with an atmosphere of joy and celebration.
When students become creators
The defining feature of this year’s celebration was that students of the Faculty of Design created both Ganesha idols themselves, drawing upon their creativity, design skills and artistic expression.
The idols reflected a distinctive synthesis of tradition, contemporary design thinking, craftsmanship and devotion. The initiative gave students an opportunity not merely to participate in a religious festival, but to interpret their cultural heritage through their own creative lens.
In doing so, the festival became an experiential learning opportunity—demonstrating how design can preserve cultural values while giving them fresh and contemporary expression.
A campus transformed by creativity
Following the installation of the idols, the campus evolved into a living cultural and creative centre.
Student-created decorations, artistic installations and a range of activities brought together design, creativity and Indian tradition in a distinctive visual and spiritual experience.
The celebration also provided students with valuable lessons in planning, teamwork, creative thinking and collective responsibility. What began as a festival thus became an opportunity for students to work together, exchange ideas and transform concepts into a shared cultural experience.
Aarti creates an atmosphere of harmony
Every evening, students and faculty members participated enthusiastically in the Ganesh aarti, creating an atmosphere of spiritual peace, unity and positive energy across the campus.
Coming together to offer prayers to Bappa strengthened the sense of community within the GLS family and added a deeper spiritual dimension to the students’ creative celebrations.
The message behind the festivities was summed up in the words: “Ganesh Utsav at GLS University, Faculty of Design is not merely a religious celebration; it is a celebration of community, collaboration, creativity and design thinking. Our students have understood tradition and presented it through their own creative perspective.”
The celebration reinforced a larger message for the next generation of designers: modernity need not mean disconnecting from one’s roots.
By remaining connected to their cultural and traditional heritage while embracing contemporary ideas and responsible practices, young designers can create a future in which innovation and identity move together.
Ganesh Utsav 2026 consequently became more than a festive occasion at GLS University. It emerged as a celebration of faith, imagination, teamwork and cultural pride, leaving the Faculty of Design campus with a memorable experience of devotion expressed through the language of design.
