Where Words Come Alive, Literary Festival 2026 Celebrates the Magic of Stories at Samtse College of Education

The grounds of Samtse College of Education came alive with creativity, imagination and storytelling on 24th October, as the college hosted its Literary Festival 2026, held under the theme: “Around The World of Literature” an event that brought books to life through a vibrant showcase of student performances and interactive activities.

Preparations began early in the morning, when students from the various B.Ed classes gathered on campus to set up their booths. Working side by side, they arranged decorations, assembled props, prepared costumes and tested equipment, gradually transforming their assigned spaces into creative representations of the novels they had chosen. A sense of anticipation filled the campus as each class put the finishing touches to its display.

At 9:00 am, students and faculty members assembled on the college ground for the opening ceremony. Karma Dechen Tshering, from English/Geography IV, delivered the opening speech, which was followed by an address from the President of the college, formally marking the start of the festival. Once the ceremony had concluded, the audience spread out across the campus to explore the booths.

In total, the festival featured 20 booths presented by B.Ed classes from the first to the fourth year, with displays arranged both on the college grounds and inside classrooms in the academic block. Each booth reflected a particular class’s interpretation of a chosen novel, with students adopting inventive approaches to bring the written word to life. The presentations were wide-ranging, including live dramatisations, musical performances, film screenings and other engaging activities that invited visitors to experience stories beyond the printed page.

With genres spanning romance, thrillers, horror and fantasy, the festival offered something to suit every literary taste. Each booth created its own distinctive atmosphere, so that visitors could step from one fictional world into another, encountering new stories, characters and themes as they went. The imaginative use of decorations, costumes, props and performance demonstrated that literature can be experienced in ways that extend well beyond reading alone.

The event also drew a varied audience, including SCE faculty and staff, students from the neighbouring high school and lower school, and members of the public. Their presence enlivened the campus as they moved from booth to booth, watched the performances and talked with the students about the work on display.

One of the visitors, Karma Yuden, a student from Samtse Higher Secondary said, “I attended the performance last year as well. While those stories were certainly impressive, this year’s festival introduced themes and narratives that were far more novel and captivating. I was particularly mesmerised by one of the horror productions where its realism made the experience profoundly engaging”.

The creativity and effort invested in the booths were also reflected in the festival’s results. B.Ed ICT D IV, with its presentation of The Addams Family, secured first prize, while B.Ed ICT C IV won second prize for Journey to the West. Third prize went to B.Ed Bio/Chem III for The Odyssey, followed by B.Ed English/Geography III, which secured fourth prize for The Room. B.Ed English/Geography II received fifth prize for its presentation of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost. The Viewer’s Choice Award went to B.Ed English/History III for its interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, reflecting the audience’s appreciation of the class’s presentation.

Beyond the performances themselves, the festival underlined the value of collaboration among student teachers. Preparing for the event required them to work collectively: sharing responsibilities, developing ideas, rehearsing performances and coordinating their presentations. Every member contributed in his or her own way through acting, designing the booths, preparing costumes, managing media or guiding visitors and these combined efforts turned individual classroom projects into a shared celebration of literature. The Literary Festival 2026 thus demonstrated the power of creativity, teamwork and storytelling in education. By transforming novels into engaging, lived experiences, the students showed how literature can connect people, inspire the imagination and make learning truly memorable.