Patiala, September 15 , 2026 | The Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala, hosted Luminescence 2026, its annual mental health awareness festival, from September 7 to 10. Built around open conversation and human connection, the four-day festival used theatre, poetry, music, storytelling and dialogue to give students a space to talk about mental health and emotional wellbeing without stigma.
An annual fixture on the TIET calendar, Luminescence was organized this year by a 270-member Mental Health Student Ambassadors team under the guidance of the Counselling Cell.
The festival opened with Main Theek Hoon, a Nukkad Natak staged at the COS. The street play examined a phrase familiar to almost every student, “I’m fine,” and the struggles it can be used to mask. Day two brought Khayaal, an open mic at C-Hall where students shared poetry, music and personal stories in an informal, welcoming setting.
Panel Discussion Tackles Loneliness in a Connected Generation
The festival’s centrepiece was Connected, Yet Alone, a panel discussion held on September 9 at Tan Auditorium, addressing whether loneliness is the biggest mental health challenge of this generation. The panel featured Ms. Japnoor Garcha, Counselling Psychologist and Founder, PsychAssist57, Ludhiana; Ms. Riya Singla, Freelance Strategy Consultant and Student Development Coach; Mr. Prabhsimran Singh, 3rd Year ENC Student, TIET, Mental Health Student Ambassador (TICC) and Author and Founder, NeuroZenHub; Ms. Puneet K. Mann, Senior Engineer, PSPCL, Image Consultant and Wellness Practitioner and Founder, Whole Hearts Wellness; and Dr. Pallavi Abhilasha, Psychiatrist and Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, CMC Ludhiana.
The session was formally inaugurated by Prof. Padmakumar Nair, Vice Chancellor, TIET; Dr. Sumit Chandok, ADoSA and Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics; Dr. Richa Babbar, Coordinating Warden and Professor, Department of Civil Engineering; and Dr. Sonam Dullat, Senior Manager, TICC.
Panelists spoke about building a stronger relationship with oneself through practices like journaling, the value of not fearing vulnerability, and the importance of close and wider circles of support in difficult moments. The discussion closed on a shared note: self-compassion, early intervention and community support are what ultimately push back against loneliness.
The festival concluded on September 10 with Calmfest, Surrealism: The Dream Escape, at the LT Lawns, where surrealist art, mindful games and creative activities invited students to slow down and reconnect with themselves.
A Festival Led by Students, for Students
What distinguishes Luminescence is who runs it: the 270-member student ambassador team, led by Ms. Sherry Singh, Mr. Priyanshu, Ms. Prishnee, Mr. Manu and Mr. Ayush, under the guidance of Dr. Sonam Dullat, Sr. Manager (Student Counsellor), and Ms. Sukhpreet Kaur, Assistant (Student Counsellor). That ownership turns mental health awareness from something delivered to students into something students build and lead themselves.
“Luminescence works because students run it. When 270 of your own peers are the ones asking you to talk about how you are really doing, the conversation stops feeling like an institutional exercise and starts feeling like a community. That is what we are building at TICC, a campus where seeking support is as natural as asking a friend for notes,” said Dr. Sonam Dullat, Senior Manager, Thapar Institute Counselling Cell.
About Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC)
Established in 2016 at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), TICC supports the psychological and emotional well being of students through individual counselling, awareness programs, workshops, outreach and student led activities, working toward a campus environment where conversations about mental health happen openly and without stigma.
About Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET), Patiala
Established in 1956, TIET is one of India’s premier private universities, recognized for its work in engineering, management, science and the liberal arts. Backed by global collaborations, active research and student centric programming, TIET continues to prepare graduates for the demands of a fast changing world. More information is available at www.thapar.edu.
