Three-day festival draws 1,200 registrations from over 500 institutions; event features sporting competitions, cultural performances and an international model United Nations programme
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 23, 2026: Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, inaugurated COLOSSUS–IMUNYP 2026 at its university auditorium on Friday, launching a three-day festival combining sports, culture, debate and youth diplomacy. Scheduled from October 23 to 25, the event has attracted 1,200 registrations from more than 500 institutions across India.
The university has made arrangements to accommodate 600 participants on campus, while the remaining attendees will participate as day visitors. The twin event aims to provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents, exchange ideas and develop their intellectual and physical abilities through competition and collaboration.
Addressing the inaugural gathering, HNLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vivekanandan highlighted the shared values of sportsmanship, cultural engagement, diplomacy and international law. He emphasised that fairness, accountability and respect for established processes were essential to both healthy competition and the rule of law. He said participants should learn to compete without hatred and disagree without hostility while maintaining mutual respect.
Prof. (Dr.) Om Prakash Vyas, Director of IIIT Naya Raipur and chief guest, spoke about the rapid advancement of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, and its implications for the legal profession. Distinguishing technological capability from human judgment, he questioned whether technology could truly understand justice merely by predicting the possible outcome of a legal case. He stressed the importance of ethics and responsible decision-making in the use of emerging technologies.
Guest of Honour Shashank Singh, reflecting on his journey in professional cricket, encouraged students to remain confident, learn from setbacks and stay committed to their goals. “Either you win or you learn. You don’t lose,” he said, urging participants to make the most of the festival, build friendships and create lasting memories.
The inaugural programme began with a welcome address by Registrar-in-Charge Prof. (Dr.) Deepak Srivastav. Event convenor Dr. Ankit Singh outlined the preparations and the broader vision of promoting intellectual and physical development through the twin festival. Faculty co-convenor Pintu Majhi delivered the vote of thanks.
Following the ceremony, the dignitaries moved to the cricket ground, where they inaugurated the sporting activities with the COLOSSUS torch and took a few shots.
The three-day COLOSSUS programme features football, volleyball and kabaddi competitions, alongside cultural events such as solo dancing, singing and a talent show. Running concurrently, IMUNYP 2026 will bring together 270 participants under the theme “The World in Dialogue”, offering a platform to discuss global issues through debate, diplomacy and collaborative deliberation.
The event was anchored by Akshaya and Manav Xaxa, while Tanishq Tiwari, convenor of COLOSSUS 2026, is overseeing its logistics and organisation.
The festival will conclude on October 25 with a grand finale and prize distribution. Organisers have announced cash prizes worth more than ₹2.18 lakh, along with cups and trophies for participants and winners.
