It all started with a casual remark made by a friend (who’s never witnessed Durga puja before) to another friend (one who grew up on a staple of yearly pujo) that the Durga idol was perhaps “too feminine” and nowhere was the “frenzy” so acute. Though it’s not clear “where” exactly was the frenzy so acute, if it’s Durga puja or Navratri — as far as students are concerned — it’s party time.

Every year if Jharkhand exports students to places far and wide like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, there are hundreds, who flock to Jharkhand, especially places such as BIT, Mesra, or Lalpur Extension, XLRI School of Business and Human Resources and NIT, Adityapur. And many of the “younglings” are first-timers to the absolute madness of pandal-hopping, garba, dandiya and food.

So, before the madness sets in, The Telegraph went across institutes to talk to outstation students and check out their plans before the party begins.

The first stop was the XLRI School of Business and Human Resources. Sadly for the students at XLRI, life’s wee bit tough right now as a new semester has just began. But there’s a party all right. Students at this B-school look forward to their yearly dandiya with professors and their families. “Down south, it’s more a homely affair,” says Sandhya Krishnan, second-year student from Coimbatore. “It’s more to do with doll decorations at home and something like dandiyas doesn’t exist. Last year we visited pandals, too, and it was awesome. The best part of Puja here is that the entire family is involved. Whereas in south India, Puja sees only women getting involved,” says Sandhya.

“The people of the city and their cousins in the world come out to celebrate. That is something totally missing in Delhi. There, it’s more of a Bengali affair,” says Neha Bharudi, a second-year student at XLRI. But like her batch-mates, more than the pandal-hopping it’s the visits to the professor’s house with the music, beat and the garba-raas that XLRI students look forward to.

“Last year one of our professors wife had organised a Ashtami puja, which was followed by a garba. It was great! Back in Delhi we do see a lot of dandiyas, but the garba was totally new. Moreover, even the smallest pujas are celebrated so lavishly that it makes it a mega-festival,” says Neha, who along with her friends are waiting for this year’s campus dandiya.

“It would be really difficult to find any students right now. All we know is that Puja celebrations in Jamshedpur are an grand affair and an experience that many of us never had,” said Manish Kumar Manda, a final-year engineering student at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Adityapur.

Originally from Bihar, the excitement of Durga puja is not unknown to Manish. But he admits that it’s definitely less lavish than what he gets to see back in Jamshedpur. Manish is looking forward to some great times, provided that the road congestion minimises. But not everyone is as adventurous as Manish.

Take Ravi Kumar, a final-year student from the engineering college for instance. “Most go back to their respective cities. Those left behind are busy studying or preparing for examinations. Moreover our campus is far away from the city, therefore, we do not do much,” says Manish, who is originally from Munger in Bihar. But not are as gung-ho about pujas in the city. “It’s only more crowded. Otherwise pujas in Patna are far better,” says Gaurav from NIT.

Originally from Bihar, Ashutosh Kumar and Ravi Prakash, BBA students of BIT, Lalpur Extension, are looking forward to the forthcoming festivities.

“But unlike Patna, Ranchi seems quite crowded. I think the traffic will pose a problem for us, as the administration has done nothing to ease the congestion,” the two added.

Another second-year BBA student Manish Tuli, from Lucknow, said: “In Lucknow we celebrate this time as Dussehra,” he further added, “The decorations are worth the while. We do not get to see this in Lucknow.”

For another hostlier, Kunal Kumar from Raipur, who is a B.Sc student of St Xavier’s College, the local Durga Badi with its traditional Puja, is the place to be.

“I enjoy hanging out with friends. We just go there, sit and observe all the rituals being performed by purohits while listening to the dhakis. This is not seen in Raipur,” added Kumar.

From Dumka, Ravi Kumar, a third-year student of St Xavier’s College believes: “I am from a small town and of course I am looking forward to enjoying the Puja here. I just love going to Mecon where the Puja is very peaceful. I just sit there and watch the dhunuchi naach where the organisers take part. Besides, I get to eat lip-smacking food.”

Vinay Kumar, a third-year MCA student from Delhi, regrets that he will not get to see his favourite Ramlila but he is more than willing to compensate with the pandals.

While those away from Jharkhand get to pine for home, the Puja and families (all the while trying to complete the syllabus), some out-station students seem to have a packed calendar. For them, home or away it’s going to be party time, anyway.

As told to Nilanjana Ghosh Choudhury and Arti Sahuliyar