Students register their names for the youth fest at St Xavier’s College in Ranchi on Thursday. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, Sept. 23: It is that time of the year when the capital readies itself for the festive season — and kick-starts it from the campus.

Starting October 8, Ranchi University Inter-college Youth Festival — a two-day annual extravaganza for around 36 participating colleges — will set new benchmarks in entertainment, promise the capital’s budding talents.

All colleges under Ranchi University have been asked to submit their list of participants for various events in the fest latest by September 30. Diverse events include debate and elocution, as well as performance-based ones such as folk dance, group and solo songs, skit, one-act play and playing of western and eastern instruments.

St Xavier’s college principal Father Nicholas Tete said varsity officials had asked the autonomous college to play host. “Here’s hoping the festival is a success. The enthusiasm of students is contagious,” Tete said.

Already, cultural committees comprising four members of host college, St Xavier’s, as well as Ranchi Women’s College, Nirmala College and Doranda College are busy selecting best talents across various activities before sending the final list to the Ranchi University cultural committee.

Varsity dean (students’ welfare) A.Q. Gilani said colleges were scouting for the best possible talents. “The selection process is in its final stages,” Gilani said.

True enough, rehearsals are on in full swing in campuses. “For the last four days, students are practising tribal dance and songs across genres — patriotic, devotional and ghazals. We’re asking then to practise as much as possible as we will select the best. And yes, registrations are pouring in,” said K. Parveen, a member of Doranda’s College cultural committee.

Students who have not yet been eliminated by selectors know it is their last chance to make it to the coveted fest.

Second-year St Xavier’s student Ritu Sinha, said she hoped to be selected in the tribal group dance category. “My friends and I are practising hard,” she said.

Added Ranchi Women’s College’s third-year student Monica Kumari: “I’m hoping for a berth in the group dance. We look forward to this mega annual fest every year.”