Students of different technical institutes at their respective college fests. (file pictures)

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 6: The fest season is on and colleges in the capital are buzzing with activities.

Apart from the fun, excitement and platform to showcase talents, the annual event is also a test of the managerial skills of students.

Right from organising various activities, collecting sponsorships and attracting maximum participation to incorporating the suggestions of teachers, the fests involve a whole lot of planning.

Core-committees consisting of student representatives and faculty members are constituted. Students propose ideas, leaving the final decisions at the hands of the teachers and management. While some colleges organise their fests within a budget of Rs 10,000, others splurge lakhs to make it a grand affair.

“About Rs 20 to 25 lakh is spent for our tech fest and the major part is borne by the college. We prepare a budget after chalking out details of events to be held, prize money and invitees. We divide the responsibilities among us by constituting committees such as event and planning, design, hospitality and sponsorship, which are headed by the teachers and management,” said Siddhant Rath, a student of the Institute of Technical Education and Research, which would be holding its annual tech fest, Chakravyuh from December 20 followed by a two-day cultural extravaganza on December 23.

When the same company sponsors the fest year after year, the task of organising the events becomes easier, said Akankshit Kanungo, general secretary of the students’ executive council of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. The B-school conducted its annual fest, Xpressions last month in which singer Lucky Ali was the star performer.

“A beverage company, which has a tie-up with our college, sponsors some of our events regularly. There are certain companies, which want to be associated only with Celeblitz, in which we invite a celebrity to perform. Mostly, our council takes the decisions regarding the kind of events, number of participants and guests to be invited. The faculty members facilitate the administrative and paperwork,” said Akankshit, adding that their annual fest involves expenses to the tune of Rs 25 to 28 lakh.

Similarly, the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology University spends around Rs 25 to 30 lakh for its annual tech fest, Kritansh, which takes place in February, said Amit Prakash, a student coordinator of the university.

“We make a presentation of the events that would be conducted and a budget is prepared accordingly. While the college pays for the events, we are given the responsibility to arrange sponsorships for the travel and accommodation of guests,” said Amit.

“Our annual fest was conducted earlier this year after a gap of two years because of the initiative of students. It was an intra-college event with every department organising its own festival. It was done at a budget of about Rs 8,000. Each participant paid Rs 20 to Rs 30 as registration fee,” said Ved Prakash Rout, a fourth year student of College of Engineering, Bhubaneswar, which would be organising its fest in January.

“But teachers always have to be kept in the loop. Students offer different kinds of suggestions but it is the teachers who take the final decision. They are like an approval body and guide us at every step,” he said.