A student in a fancy dress demonstrates an animation tool to the participants of MarkFest, the annual marketing festival of ASBM, Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17: There was double dose of fun at the Asian School of Business Management here, as not one, but two fests started simultaneously today.

The B-School hosted two of its annual festivals — MarkFest and Ignite-12 — in which hundreds of management students from various institutes across the capital participated. Several events such as Ad-Diction, WinQuiz, Business Plan and Skit Show were organised, providing the students a much-needed break from studies and a platform to showcase their talents.

A dozen kiosks were pitched on the campus, in which the participants demonstrated marketing strategies to promote innovative products. A team of students of ASBM explained their concept of a “hi-tech restaurant” equipped with user-friendly gadgets and gizmos.

“Such tech-savvy restaurants are very popular in the UK and we could set up one here in the state. We could call it Foogle and it would have two panels — Food Search and I’m Feeling Hungry. It would have digital menu cards, robot waiters and virtual bartenders,” said Priyanka, a student, pointing at the menu that included keyboard-shaped patties, stiletto-shaped pastries, and other interesting food items named Nokia Special Coffee, Digital Glow Cake, Fresh Cutlet Device, Lock-Pop Ice cream, and so on.

At Ad-Diction, teams, including four members each, endorsed either an imaginary technologically advanced product or a simple, day-to-day use product through short ad campaigns.

One team called Pinnacle promoted an advanced landline phone in 2020, which could double up as a fax machine with video-calling and printing technology.

“We need to minimise the use of cell phones as it emits harmful radiations and the battery is not easily disposable. Our product, to be launched in 2020, would compete with cell phones,” said Bhabani, a member of Pinnacle.

Founder director of ASBM, Biswajeet Pattanayak, said the fests were a conference of ignited minds and combined fun with learning.

“The participants generally present these innovative ideas before reputed companies and industrial houses. Some others, who turn to entrepreneurship, put these ideas into practice in their own ventures. An expert panel reviews their products and concepts,” Pattanayak said.

Tomorrow, there will be other creative activities, including RJ Show and Made in India — Fashion Show.

The valedictory session of both the fests will be attended by minister of revenue and disaster management, Surjya Narayan Patro, who will give away prizes to the winners of different events. A cultural programme will follow this.