Written by Anusree K CNew Delhi | October 7, 2025 05:20 AM IST 3 min readCM Rekha Gupta and My Home India founder Sunil Deodhar at the event (Express Photo)Delhi’s Talkatora Indoor Stadium pulsed with energy, music, and mobile flashlights as over 25,000 students gathered for the eighth edition of the North East Students’ Festival — NESt Fest 2025 — held on October 4 and 5.With the theme ‘From Culture to Climate: The Youth Mandate’, the fest spotlighted the Northeast’s vibrant cultural tapestry while amplifying the voices of a generation eager to lead conversations on sustainability and social change.The festival opened with a heartfelt tribute to legendary Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, whose music has shaped the soundscape of the Northeast for decades.Story continues below this adOrganised by NGO My Home India, the two-day celebration drew prominent figures including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Mizoram Governor Gen V K Singh (retd), and High Commissioner of South Africa in India Anil Sooklal.Addressing the crowd, Gupta dubbed the NESt Fest as a celebration of friendship, culture, and youth energy. “I feel proud that Delhi gets to host so many young people from the North-East who bring their ideas, their talent and their traditions here. Delhi is your city as much as it is anyone else’s,” she said.Gupta also promised that the next edition of the festival would be celebrated with the Delhi government on an even grander scale.Zubeen’s memory lingered throughout the evening, with chants of “Zubeen da” echoing through the stadium each time his name was mentioned.Story continues below this adAmid music, dance, and a fashion show, students took the spotlight at Arunodaya – a flagship session on entrepreneurship and sustainability – sharing ideas on how youth can lead climate action.For Sunil Deodhar, Founder of My Home India, the festival was a testament to “youth who are not waiting for change but ready to lead it.”Across the two days, audiences were treated to a blend of traditional and contemporary performances. Nagaland’s K L Pamei captivated the crowd with his original compositions along with some popular Bollywood songs. “I hope I can give you a reason to go home and check out my music, even though I know most of you don’t know who I am,” he said.Assamese artist Dipakshi Kalita, known for her playback singing projects in Bollywood and collaborations with A R Rahman, dedicated her entire set to Garg. She also performed his famous song “Mayabini.”Story continues below this adManipur’s AJ Maisnam also paid tribute to the legendary artist. “As an artiste from Manipur, I feel an unspoken connection. We are from different states, but we share the same soil, the same sky, the same struggles and joys. Through his music, Zubeen Da reminded us of our responsibility to connect,” he said.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd