Convocation ceremonies that students all over the world celebrate as a glorious climax to their university days are of little interest to scholars in Bihar.

While most universities in the state make hardly an effort to organise the ceremony, students, too, display little enthusiasm to attend their convocation.

Bhupendra Narayan Mandal University, Madhepura, and Jai Prakash University, Chhapra — both established in 1992 — have not held a single convocation ceremony.

The authorities are not the only one to blame though. Students, too, are equally apathetic towards attending convocation ceremonies.

Jai Prakash University, Chhapra, has planned to host its first convocation in May this year. But out of the 4,500 students at the institution, only nine registered themselves for the function.

The varsity registrar Tapaswi Prasad said: “We cancelled the function as so few students registered themselves.”

Most varsities in the country host convocations every year. Calcutta University has held convocation ceremonies every year since 1858 when the first batch graduated.

Explaining the importance of the convocation ceremony, Patna University vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh said: “Students have the right to a convocation function at their university. It is the occasion when the students are awarded degrees and honours. Failing to organise a convocation can have a depressing effect on the students.”

A senior teacher of the university said: “Universities often organise convocations depending upon the visit of dignitaries. In 2009, Patna University hosted two convocation functions.”

In January 2009, PU hosted a function where the chief guest was then Rajasthan Governor S.K. Singh while then Bihar Governor R.L. Bhatia was the distinguished guest. The varsity organised another function in December that year where the chief guest was Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Governor Devanand Konwar was distinguished guest.

Students of at least one university would not be deprived of the opportunity to celebrate their graduation this year. Lalit Narayan Mithila University scholars will get their degrees in style in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday.

This is the fourth time the university is organising a passing-out function since 1972 when it was established. Governor-cum-chancellor Devanand Konwar attended the function last year.