College fests are one of the most exciting and awaited events for students in India. These events usually occur once or twice a year and offer a break from the academic pressure students face throughout the year. College fests are typically organized by the students and are known for their vibrancy, creativity, and energy.
During these events, students can showcase their talents and skills in various fields, such as music, dance, drama, sports, and art. College fests also provide a platform for students to interact with peers from different colleges and make new friends.
Every college festival is unique, but some stand out because of their renown and magnificence. Here are India's top 10 engineering college fests that should be noticed.
Mood Indigo, IIT Mumbai
Mood Indigo, also known as MoodI or MI, is a vast cultural festival that happens every year at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. It usually occurs at the end of December and has happened since 1971. It's a big deal, with over 1,26,000 students from 1620 colleges across India attending the festival in 2015. It's now the largest festival of its kind in Asia! Mood Indigo has attracted much attention over the years, with many famous people and companies sponsoring and participating in the event.
Saarang, IIT Madras
Saarang is a five-day cultural festival organized by the students of IIT Madras in Chennai. This event used to be called 'Mardi Gras' and is now one of the most famous festivals in Chennai. Every year, around 50,000 people attend Saarang, including college students and locals. This festival features a diverse range of cultural events, such as music and dance shows, as well as celebrity competitions and appearances. If you're looking for a fun and exciting cultural experience, Saarang is worth checking out!
OASIS, BITS Pilani
OASIS is the annual cultural festival of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. It all began as a small festival in 1971, but today it spans four days in October and lasts 96 hours nonstop. More than 200 colleges across India participate in this festival, which features dance, music, stage shows, drama, fashion shows, and treasure hunts.
OASIS is a must-visit for any college student looking for a fun and thrilling experience right before Diwali, drawing 6000 visitors from over 90 colleges. OASIS's most popular events include Exposure, Rocktaves, Rap Wars, Choreo, and Mr & Ms Oasis (MAMO). The festival also features "prof shows" with performances by famous artists and groups like Good Shoes, TAAQ, Neeraj Shridhar, The Shakey Rays, and Kailash Kher.
INCIDENT, NIT K
The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) in Surathkal, Karnataka, India, hosts Incident as part of their yearly cultural festival. It is the second-largest college fest in the country and takes place over five days in March.
This festival started during the 1980s and has grown bigger every year since. The festival includes singing competitions like Bandish (eastern classical music) and Pulse (western heavy metal), as well as dance competitions like solo dance, couple dance, street dance, Tandav, and Promenade (western group dance). Students from different colleges all over India come together to participate in several competitive events and pro-shows by renowned artists. NIT K also has a private beach where students can chill out or participate in competitive events such as beach volleyball, football, and unrest.
Pravega, IISc Bangalore
Pravega is the Science, Technical, and Cultural Fest of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. It is the first and largest fest, designed to attract the brightest, most creative, and most passionate students who love to gain knowledge in any form. This fest has something for everyone, from nerds and geeks to rock punks. If you're interested in science, technology, and culture, Pravega at IISc Bangalore is a must-attend event.
Unmaad, IIM Bangalore
Unmaad is the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore's annual cultural event. Since its inception in 1996, the festival has improved every year.
Unmaad, which translates to "extreme happiness," provides institutions and businesses from around India with a one-of-a-kind event that includes 72 hours of nonstop excitement that culminates in the Unmaad fashion show. The MBA students' already busy schedules are busier by this three-day event.
RENDEZVOUS, IIT Delhi
Rendezvous is a cultural fest organized by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, which attracts about 50,000 students from 350 colleges in India. This four-day event takes place every October and includes various competitive events such as stage plays, street plays, cue games, singing competitions, street painting, debates, quizzes, and photography. The main highlights of Rendezvous are Bigwig, Kaleidoscope, Blitzkrieg, and Dhoom, which create a buzz among students.
Waves, BITS, Goa
During Waves, a well-known three-day cultural festival by BITS Goa, more than 2000 students and about 100 colleges participate. The event, located by the sea, has a remarkable history of famous appearances. The event has featured performances by several well-known musicians, including Vidya Balan, DJ Suketu, KK, Parikrama, Shafqat Amanat Ali, and Kailash Kher. For college students, a festival is a must-attend event because it features a variety of activities, such as competitions in music, dance, and theatre.
Malhar, St. Xavier’s
Malhar is a famous inter-collegiate youth festival held annually in Mumbai, organised entirely by the workforce of 1200 volunteers and 130 people on the organizing committee of St. Xavier's College. The festival follows a unique theme every year, intending to provide a platform for people to share their stories. Malhar is one of the largest youth festivals in Mumbai and a must-visit for college students in the city.
Riviera, Vellore Institute of Technology
Riviera, a 3–4 day festival annually in January–February, is the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University's cultural and sporting event. In addition to the 45,000 students at VIT, Riviera hosts over 100 events that draw attendees from colleges nationwide. These events include dance, music, literature, and the fine arts. Its culmination is the festival's star night, which provides for well-known performers like Shankar Mahadevan, Euphoria, Parikrama, KK, and Hari Haran.
