Beaconhouse National University (BNU) Tarogil Campus came alive for the fourth annual BNU Bestival ’15. The four-day event kicked off on Thursday to celebrate all the talent that the youth has to offer.
Taha Iqbal Shah, a former student of Mass Communication at BNU, believes that the Bestival provides the youth a platform to perform and show off their talents.
“I think that in Pakistan there is generally a lot of negativity around. We need something positive to lift youth’s attention off the tragic incidents we see taking place on a daily basis. Bestival is a way for people to forget all that, and focus on their talents for a few days, bringing them out in the best possible way.”
The Bestival began in 2012 and has turned into an annual event since then. It includes a wide range of themes. From dramatics to photography and from fashion to gaming – it has a little bit of everything.
Shah, a participant, believes that the Bestival provides the youth with an experience and gives them exposure to the real world. “Although the Bestival only gives out certificates to its performers with no prize money, what the contestants get out of it is amazing: experience, exposure, and a whole lot of fun,” he said.
Talal Burney, another student informed Pakistan Today that over 55 institutions from all over Pakistan had come to perform at the Bestival.
“We have an average attendance of 3,000 people, and this is the fourth year for the Bestival. The line-up includes a concert on the first day, a DJ night and ‘light up’ (lanterns) on the second, a fashion show sponsored by Suzuki (with work put forth by the students), and on day four we will be having a drama/battle of the bands as the finale, along with the closing ceremony.”
The first day was also marked by the presence of Jal the Band and a renowned rapper from Islamabad.
Mehroze Gilani, a student from LGS, attended the Bestival as a contestant in the ‘battle of the bands’. He spoke about his work in the context of the Bestival, “I was a part of western singing and instrumentals, and I won in the instrumentals category. I was performing ‘Soothe Saver’ by the Buckethead. The BNU Bestival is one of a kind and I perform here every year.”
The Bestival is a multi-category competition and performers from all over Pakistan come to perform at the event.