Gurugram, December 17, 2025
St. Xavier’s High School, Sector 49, Gurugram, in collaboration with Hindustan Times PACE, proudly hosted the HT PACE Lit Fest 2025, a signature literary event that celebrated the power of language, creativity, and expression. The event brought together over 1000 students from 32 reputed schools across the NCR, transforming the campus into a vibrant forum for literary engagement, artistic exploration, and collaborative learning.
The day commenced with the Opening Ceremony, beginning with registration, followed by a warm welcome, hymn and prayer, ceremonial lamp lighting, and the felicitation of dignitaries. The Director Principal Ms. Ritu Mehta, formally declared the event open, inspiring students to view literature and the arts as essential tools for reflection, communication, and personal growth.
The school was honoured by the presence of Mr. Madhur Aggarwal, Circulation Head, HT Media, Delhi NCR, Ms. Swati Garg, Deputy General Manager, HT PACE, and Ms. Anamika Nalwaya, Manager, HT PACE. The school expressed its sincere appreciation to the HT Lit Fest team for their visionary initiative in creating a platform that amplifies young voices and encourages free expression.
A major highlight of the event was “The Reflective Theatre”, an immersive session conducted by Dr. Parul Purohit, distinguished Kathak exponent and Dean, School of Performing Arts, World University of Design. Through theatre-based activities such as improvisation and role-play, students explored self-awareness, confidence-building, and effective communication. Another enriching session, “From Imagination to Paper”, was led by Ms. Nandita Basu, award-winning comic book artist, who introduced students to the creative process behind graphic novels, inspiring them to transform ideas and emotions into compelling visual narratives.
The competitive segment of the event featured thoughtfully curated contests including Poetic Voices (English Poetry Recitation), Hindi Slam Poetry, Artful Strokes (Calligraphy Competition), and ReFab Revolution: Waste to Wonder. These events offered students meaningful opportunities to demonstrate literary depth, artistic finesse, performance excellence, and environmental responsibility. The competitions were evaluated by a distinguished panel of adjudicators. Poetic Voices was judged by Prof. Anand Khatri, poet, architect, and founder of the Poiesis Society for Poetry, ReFab Revolution was adjudicated by Ms. Gagandeep Kaur, freelance artist and Expert Teacher with Pidilite Industries, while Artful Strokes was judged by Mr. Inku Kumar, founder of Calli Art and a leading calligraphy practitioner.
The event culminated with the Closing Ceremony, featuring a visual recap of memorable moments and the declaration of results, bringing the day to a fitting close. Transcending the bounds of a literary celebration, the event inspired conversations that resonated long after the sessions concluded.
The HT PACE Lit Fest 2025 evolved into a dynamic platform for ideas, imagination, and youthful expression. The occasion empowered students to discover their voices, appreciate diverse perspectives, and transform creativity into meaningful dialogue. Through this enriching collaboration with Hindustan Times PACE, St. Xavier’s High School once again demonstrated its commitment to holistic education—one that nurtures confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love for learning.