If one word had to sum up Sunday, 25 October 2026, it would be vibe. Spill the Word Fest Season 4 wrapped up with a Day 2 that had the right vibe in every segment and no cap, it was one of its kind. The vibe was chill, deep, dramatic and by the end, straight-up soulful. Organised by Kavita Kisse Kahaniyan, with Gaana and Mirchi as entertainment partners, UPMRC as connectivity partner and birspark on event production, the fest turned Lucknow into a playground for words, music and stories. Here is how the vibe played out.
Jhoola Set a Wholesome Vibe
The day began with Jhoola, a kids’ session by Lovey and honestly, it stole hearts right at the start. Kids these days are of another level. They got to recite poems of their own choice and the confidence on that stage was something else. No stage fright, just pure main character energy.
The moment that left everyone speechless? One little one recited Rashmirathi. Yes, Dinkar’s Rashmirathi! The audience was stunned and the claps just kept coming. In today’s era of reels and screens, it feels so good to see our kids going back to their roots. Parents were beaming with pride and the whole place felt like one big proud family.
Time Flew in the Thoughtful Vibe of the Panels
The afternoon belonged to the conversations. In Lucknow: A City of Art and Adab, Gaurav Prakash and Pt Rajiv Bakshi spoke with Iti Shree Misra about what makes the city so classy, from its tehzeeb to its art and why Lucknow’s charm never gets old.
Then came The Basics of Ghazal Writing with Chandra Shekhar Varma and Rishabh Neelam Mishra, which gave budding writers a peek into the craft behind one of poetry’s most loved forms. Both discussions were so apt and reflective that time flew by and nobody noticed. Big brain energy all around.
Poetry With a Different Vibe
Next, the stage belonged to the poets and some sur owners. Naresh Saxena with his literary legacy took over the stage followed by Adisha and Mohit Yadav performed the poetry and the crowd was instantly locked in. Abhishek and Aishani that had everyone vibing with every line. Faiz and Ashutosh Yadav’s music performance then gave the evening a smooth, feel-good lift. Every verse got its moment, and the audience gave it back with big applause.
Dastangoi Gave Old Lucknow a Fresh Vibe
Arshana Azmat presented Wajid Ali Shah 2026, a dastangoi performance and this one held a proper twist. The tales of the nawabs came alive but with a Gen Z touch and slang. It was truly purani kahaniyan par ek naye andaz mein.
Imagine royal stories from old Lucknow told in a way your generation actually relates to. That’s exactly what happened. The audience loved how the nawabi era felt fresh, funny and honestly iconic. It proved that traditional art forms don’t have to feel old-school. They just need the right vibe.
Devdas Brought a Dramatic Vibe to the Stage
Devdas, a theatrical adaptation of the film, was brought to life by Rishabh Neelam Prakash, Anushka, Harsh Vardhan, Swejal and Ashutosh. It was carefully curated and people absolutely loved it.
It was a live experience of every moment, packed with thrill and emotion. The art of acting was showcased so well, and every scene was performed with so much heart. You didn’t just watch Devdas, you felt it. The silence during the intense scenes and the roaring applause after them said it all.
Mohabbat ki woh kahani, adhuri hokar bhi poori hai.
The Sufi Night Turned the Vibe Up to Max
And then came the highlight of the entire festival. The Khayal Sufi Band, took the stage and cranked up the energy of the whole venue.
The audience was grooving to the band’s every direction. People were clapping, swaying and singing along and nobody was sitting still, the band knew exactly how to keep the crowd hooked. Everyone enjoyed it to the fullest and for a few hours it felt like the whole city was lost in the music. It was the perfect closing to the fest and honestly, the Sufi night was the main character of Day 2..
One Last Vibe: Bigger, Bolder, Louder
Overall, Spill the Word Fest ended on a really good note. Season 4 was absolutely bigger, bolder and louder than anything before it. From a kid reciting Rashmirathi to a Sufi night that had everyone grooving, the festival showed that the world of words has a place for everyone.
This is not a goodbye, just see you soon.
Spill the Word Fest will be back with another level and we are already counting the days.
Phir milenge, naye lafzon aur naye rangon ke saath.
Till then, keep spilling your words, your art and kindness for world needs more of that.
Also,
Missed Day 1?
Take a stroll online and go through our Day 1 article and highlights to relive the first half of the fest.
