The Annual Saarang 2024 Cultural Festival at IIT Madras gets underway, with over 80,000 students taking part

The 50th anniversary of the "Saarang 2024" cultural festival is being observed by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). The festival began today and runs for five days, ending on January 14. More than 80,000 students from more than 500 colleges nationwide will take part this year.

More than 850 IIT Madras students from different departments and years are working hard to make this edition a huge success. "Mystic Hues" is the subject for Saarang 2023, and it highlights how colours are entwined with culture and customs, said V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras, during the festival's opening.

Speaking at Saarang 2024 inaugural event, IIT Madras Dean (Students) Sathyanarayana N Gummadi, said: “I am pleased to invite students, participants, and the IIT community to our 50th cultural festival. The classical and folk night will debut for this golden jubilee celebration, showcasing classical music and Tamil Nadu folk arts. The newly established ‘Saarang Village showcases India's various and wonderful traditions. Over 800 students and mentors made the 50th Saarang edition a success.”

IIT Madras advisor Prasad Patnaik BSV applauded the efforts of the students and said: “To make the event exciting for Generation Z, the entire Saarang organising team has been working above and beyond. Congratulations to the group headed by Valeti Sriraj and Jyotir Aditya Menon, our cultural secretaries.”

Every year, the institute launches a social initiative called Saarang. The Saarang is launching the "Urjam" social campaign this year to urge people to choose renewable energy sources and make thoughtful selections.