Bhubaneswar: Students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here came together to celebrate the diversity of the country.

An event called Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat was organised under the aegis of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat Mission of the Union government recently.

The programme is an idea of a sustained and structured cultural connect between people of various regions across the country.

The institute, headed by director R.V. Raja Kumar, has planned to organise sixteen events of cultural exchange for various paired states and Union territories in a span of one year to celebrate the unity in diversity of the nation.

IIT-Bhubaneswar has organised the 11th edition of the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat initiative on its campus on Sunday to showcase the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and to enable the students understand and appreciate the diversity of the country and foster a sense of common identity among all Indians.

In the event, informative videos were displayed based on the music, dance, handicrafts, literature, festivals, painting, sports, sculpture, flora and fauna of these states.

Students, staff, faculty and their family members enthusiastically took part in the cultural events.

A quiz competition was also organised with various questions on the these states. A photo gallery was also displayed at the venue.

"We tried to showcase the culture, customs and traditions, art forms, handicrafts, cuisines of the states to foster inter-connectedness between the constituents of various cultures and traditions," said Raja Kumar.

He also added that this was vital for the spirit of nation building.