A three-day 11th Alma Fiesta, the annual socio-cultural fest of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), began with its cultural theme “India’s Cultural Melange: A Voyage to India’s Heritage Roots” and social theme “Jal Sanrakshit, Bhavishya Surakshit” here on Friday.
Chief guest Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) National Fellow Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr Kshiti Bhusan Das reinforced the importance of classical music and dance among the students for enhancing technical creativity.
He also expressed happiness at the rapid growth strides by the IIT Bhubaneswar and congratulated the institute and complimented Director Prof RV Raja Kumar. He also stressed on the importance of having good teachers as role models for the students to take up careers in science, technology and creative arts.
Prof Kumar said that the fest has become a beacon of culture and it has made a mark unprecedented and unachievable by its contemporaries. “There is a great sense of importance of Indian classical music and dance in today’s times, and I urge each and every student to use the fine arts as a medium to enhance their technical creativity,” he added.
On the occasion, a children’s fest “Bachpan Ka Rangmanch” was organised in which more than 150 orphanage children participated in events ranging from music and dance competition and many more fun activities for them with a motto to give them a day of profound happiness.
The three-day fest includes dance, music, dramatics and fine arts, literary, technical workshops such as Android App development and self-driving cars, Star Nites (DJ Tejas and Akasa Singh-Bollywood Singer, Cyber Crusades and many more.