Freshers come into campuses, eager to impress their peers, and soon find themselves joining in planning and preparations as the focus shifts towards annual college festivals. Yatin Ingle gives you a rundown on this year’s top festivals, from ye olde Malhar, to the more recent Umang.
With monsoons arrival, college festivals kick start with a renewed zeal. Every year, students and faculties ideate together on new and creative ways to conceptualise that year’s themes and events. In what seems like a barrage of fests, each college’s merriment follows another’s.
MONSOON = MALHAR
The first and considered to be Asia’s oldest and largest festivals is St. Xavier College’s annual fest Malhar.
Over three decades ago, a group of teenagers came together hoping to start something new. An informal set of events was planned and approximately 100 visitors were a part of this small-scale initiative. Therein lay the inception of one of the biggest college festivals in the country – Malhar.
The fest featured everything from dance, dramatics, singing, literature and art based events, ‘The AmNight’ where students display their talents is one of the favourites amongst the college crowds. This year Malhar’s theme is ‘Local’. From sips of cutting chai, the banter of fisherwomen, the blaring of car horns; in between the slew of packed trains, the haggling of sweaty street markets, in between the flowing of a dirty river, the navigating of jam-packed roads, and playing of the latest Bollywood hit.
Popular events to watch out for:
Band-O-best, Illuminati, Step it up , Ticket to bollywood, Jashn – e – Qawaali, Mr & Miss Malhar, Strings of Change, Reggae Reinvented, Capoeria
Contact: www.malharfest.org
Festival dates:
August 17 – 19
A RAPTUROUS UMANG
After the stormy Malhar, comes Umang the annual fest of Narsee Monjee College. Umang has been titled Asia’s fastest growing festival and provides a platform for a spectrum of varied forms of arts from literary arts, fine arts, performing arts, management skills as well as sports.
Since its inception in 2000, it entertains a footfall of over 50,000 college students, 8,000 participants from over 250 colleges all over India over a span of just four days. It has become an integral part of the life of collegians all over. This year Umang is based upon the theme ‘The Mariners Saga’. Watch out for pirates, mermaids and sailors as they adorn the stages.
Popular Events to watch out:
War of Dj’s, Model Hunt, Mr. & Miss Umang, UV dance, Street Dance, B-boying
Contact: www.nmumang.org/ blog.nmumang.org
Festival dates:
August 19 – 22
A POLARISING ISSUE
A veritable David amongst the college fest Goliaths is Wilson College’s Polaris, with its 2012 theme: ‘Where Genius meets Madness’.
This year, the Wilsonians bring to you the festival filled with eccentricity and bizarre enthusiasm marked with their distinct stroke of genius. Polaris brings to you events from the Indo-Western music to hip-hop and with a backdrop of advertising and journalism events backed by the media world. So, let the countdown begin.
Popular Events to watch out:
Band event, Junk Pella, Fashion Show, Foot Cricket, Radio event.
Contact: www.polaris/2012.com
Festival dates:
July 20 – 22
Schedule for festivities
Polaris July 20-22
Malhar August 17 – 19
Umang August 19-22
Kaleidoscope Sept 7-9
Kshitij Nov-Dec 16:9 December
Mood Indigo December