REBECA, the annual cultural fest of IIEST Shibpur, took the city by storm from the 20th to the 23rd of April in an otherwise monotonous schedule of college students. Although the temperatures were soaring and college and schools were being shut down, REBECA didn’t give any scope for disappointment for the students of IIEST and other colleges. Teenagers, college mobs, and elderly people alike trooped into the 167-year-old campus of BE College to celebrate the 82nd edition of the oldest cultural fest of India.
Reunion of Bengal Engineering Cultural Annuals, quite stylishly turned into the acronym REBECA, is no less than a festival for the Beings, as they like to call themselves, with the 4 days of the fest quite rightfully named Saptami to Dashami. With chants of “REBECA REBECA!!” the adrenaline was beyond the measurable scale for the four nights.
Saptami celebrated as Classical night, saw the students of IIEST and guest performers honoring the rich cultural background of our country. From folk dances to classical dances to ragas to fusion, the crowd swayed to it all.
Navami or Kolkata night was perhaps the one which needed the least publicity yet was the most emotional for the city. The night opened with Distorted Chromosomes throwing the crowd into euphoria with Bollywood and Bengali hits alike.
The crowd was already on the precipice of claiming that the best moments have been touched when at midnight, came the man for whom the entire city was waiting with bated breath. The Anupam Roy band turned the night into something that will probably be forever etched in the hearts of Beings. The night ended on a high note with a DJ show.
Dashami was equally energizing and fulfilling. Mumbai night kicked off with a fashion show, followed by Anurag Halder. Yet now, REBECA had still another gift for the city, that goes by the name of ASH King. The Bollywood star who sang innumerable hits, thronged the crowd and pulled the fest to a point where it was meant to be.
Followed by Ehsaas India who performed popular Bollywood songs and managed to move the entire campus to tears. The night was still not over for the Beings when DJ Aerreo quite easily convinced the crowd to dance till the crack of dawn.
As the Beings like to end their pujo by saying “Amra chhilam, Amra achhi, Amra thakte chai!!” REBECA 2023 concluded in high spirits.