The usually spacious campus of Mount Carmel College, on of the city's oldest educational institutions, teemed with students who had come to take part in the PU fest Esplendida.
That's hardly surprising, considering about 8,000 students from across 60 to 70 colleges are expected to participate in an array of 50 competitions at the two-day extravaganza.
"The fest is in its 16th edition," said the college principal Sr Ashwini. "And it's as big as ever even though many other colleges have
exams."
And true to her word, students who had rushed to be part of the fun and frolic after their exams could be spotted in the crowd. Among them were those studying in Class 11 of Frank Anthony Public School, all set to walk the runway.
"The theme is 'Fashion through the ages', so we're focussing on Western fashion, starting from gowns of yore to the suits of the 1980s," said Shania King from the team of 10.
Ashutosh Anand of Kensri School, who loves participating in literary events, only found out about the debate contest this morning. "The theme is 'Indian Court Law' but I'll know whether I'll speak for or against only when I pick a chit a few minutes before it's my turn to go," he said, adding that he was confident. "I've had half-an-hour to prepare — actually 15 minutes to prepare and the other 15 to relax."
He plans to try his had at penning poetry and any other competition that might catch his fancy later in the day.
Several other students, by contrast, have been readying for the fest for days. Rohan Ajay, Anish V Bhat, Nakshatra Sharma and Girish E of Vidya Mandir have been rehearsing for the 'Western acoustics' and 'Battle of bands' contests for two weeks.
"We're playing some heavy rock for the first and Linkin Park covers for the next," said Rohan.
Soundarya PU College's Goutham M and Sachin V S were at the fest to take part in the face painting competition. "That, and on Saturday, we'll participate in flower arrangement," said the former.
The celebrity guests, the actors Malashri and Priyanka Upendra, who flagged off the ongoing event on Friday added to the high energy of the crowd.
The two popular artistes spoke of films just happened to them — while Malashri dreamt of being a pilot as a child, Priyanka had set her sights on becoming an "economist or something like that".
"And I think cultural events like this are a great place to learn a lot about yourself and help you in challenging yourself," said Priyanka. Malashri chipped in to thank the college for all the talent it has thrown up for the world to see.
NCC cadet Varada Ranjith, a PUC I student at the host college, was excited to be part of the brigade escorting the celebrities. "Everyone wanted to take selfies with them and our job was to make sure they kept a safe distance. This is my first college fest and it was a really exciting experience," she said.
![]( "Charmed Students taking selfie with actor Priyanka Upendra during the event. DH Photo by B H Shivakumar")
The usually spacious campus of Mount Carmel College, on of the city’s oldest educational institutions, teemed with students who had come to take part in the PU fest Esplendida.
That’s hardly surprising, considering about 8,000 students from across 60 to 70 colleges are expected to participate in an array of 50 competitions at the two-day extravaganza.
"The fest is in its 16th edition,” said the college principal Sr Ashwini. "And it’s as big as ever even though many other colleges have
exams.”
And true to her word, students who had rushed to be part of the fun and frolic after their exams could be spotted in the crowd. Among them were those studying in Class 11 of Frank Anthony Public School, all set to walk the runway.
"The theme is 'Fashion through the ages’, so we’re focussing on Western fashion, starting from gowns of yore to the suits of the 1980s,” said Shania King from the team of 10.
Ashutosh Anand of Kensri School, who loves participating in literary events, only found out about the debate contest this morning. "The theme is 'Indian Court Law’ but I’ll know whether I’ll speak for or against only when I pick a chit a few minutes before it’s my turn to go,” he said, adding that he was confident. "I’ve had half-an-hour to prepare — actually 15 minutes to prepare and the other 15 to relax.”
He plans to try his had at penning poetry and any other competition that might catch his fancy later in the day.
Several other students, by contrast, have been readying for the fest for days. Rohan Ajay, Anish V Bhat, Nakshatra Sharma and Girish E of Vidya Mandir have been rehearsing for the 'Western acoustics’ and 'Battle of bands’ contests for two weeks.
"We’re playing some heavy rock for the first and Linkin Park covers for the next,” said Rohan.
Soundarya PU College’s Goutham M and Sachin V S were at the fest to take part in the face painting competition. "That, and on Saturday, we’ll participate in flower arrangement,” said the former.
The celebrity guests, the actors Malashri and Priyanka Upendra, who flagged off the ongoing event on Friday added to the high energy of the crowd.
The two popular artistes spoke of films just happened to them — while Malashri dreamt of being a pilot as a child, Priyanka had set her sights on becoming an "economist or something like that”.
"And I think cultural events like this are a great place to learn a lot about yourself and help you in challenging yourself,” said Priyanka. Malashri chipped in to thank the college for all the talent it has thrown up for the world to see.
NCC cadet Varada Ranjith, a PUC I student at the host college, was excited to be part of the brigade escorting the celebrities. "Everyone wanted to take selfies with them and our job was to make sure they kept a safe distance. This is my first college fest and it was a really exciting experience,” she said.
That's hardly surprising, considering about 8,000 students from across 60 to 70 colleges are expected to participate in an array of 50 competitions at the two-day extravaganza.
"The fest is in its 16th edition," said the college principal Sr Ashwini. "And it's as big as ever even though many other colleges have
exams."
And true to her word, students who had rushed to be part of the fun and frolic after their exams could be spotted in the crowd. Among them were those studying in Class 11 of Frank Anthony Public School, all set to walk the runway.
"The theme is 'Fashion through the ages', so we're focussing on Western fashion, starting from gowns of yore to the suits of the 1980s," said Shania King from the team of 10.
Ashutosh Anand of Kensri School, who loves participating in literary events, only found out about the debate contest this morning. "The theme is 'Indian Court Law' but I'll know whether I'll speak for or against only when I pick a chit a few minutes before it's my turn to go," he said, adding that he was confident. "I've had half-an-hour to prepare — actually 15 minutes to prepare and the other 15 to relax."
He plans to try his had at penning poetry and any other competition that might catch his fancy later in the day.
Several other students, by contrast, have been readying for the fest for days. Rohan Ajay, Anish V Bhat, Nakshatra Sharma and Girish E of Vidya Mandir have been rehearsing for the 'Western acoustics' and 'Battle of bands' contests for two weeks.
"We're playing some heavy rock for the first and Linkin Park covers for the next," said Rohan.
Soundarya PU College's Goutham M and Sachin V S were at the fest to take part in the face painting competition. "That, and on Saturday, we'll participate in flower arrangement," said the former.
The celebrity guests, the actors Malashri and Priyanka Upendra, who flagged off the ongoing event on Friday added to the high energy of the crowd.
The two popular artistes spoke of films just happened to them — while Malashri dreamt of being a pilot as a child, Priyanka had set her sights on becoming an "economist or something like that".
"And I think cultural events like this are a great place to learn a lot about yourself and help you in challenging yourself," said Priyanka. Malashri chipped in to thank the college for all the talent it has thrown up for the world to see.
NCC cadet Varada Ranjith, a PUC I student at the host college, was excited to be part of the brigade escorting the celebrities. "Everyone wanted to take selfies with them and our job was to make sure they kept a safe distance. This is my first college fest and it was a really exciting experience," she said.
The usually spacious campus of Mount Carmel College, on of the city’s oldest educational institutions, teemed with students who had come to take part in the PU fest Esplendida.That’s hardly surprising, considering about 8,000 students from across 60 to 70 colleges are expected to participate in an array of 50 competitions at the two-day extravaganza.
"The fest is in its 16th edition,” said the college principal Sr Ashwini. "And it’s as big as ever even though many other colleges have
exams.”
And true to her word, students who had rushed to be part of the fun and frolic after their exams could be spotted in the crowd. Among them were those studying in Class 11 of Frank Anthony Public School, all set to walk the runway.
"The theme is 'Fashion through the ages’, so we’re focussing on Western fashion, starting from gowns of yore to the suits of the 1980s,” said Shania King from the team of 10.
Ashutosh Anand of Kensri School, who loves participating in literary events, only found out about the debate contest this morning. "The theme is 'Indian Court Law’ but I’ll know whether I’ll speak for or against only when I pick a chit a few minutes before it’s my turn to go,” he said, adding that he was confident. "I’ve had half-an-hour to prepare — actually 15 minutes to prepare and the other 15 to relax.”
He plans to try his had at penning poetry and any other competition that might catch his fancy later in the day.
Several other students, by contrast, have been readying for the fest for days. Rohan Ajay, Anish V Bhat, Nakshatra Sharma and Girish E of Vidya Mandir have been rehearsing for the 'Western acoustics’ and 'Battle of bands’ contests for two weeks.
"We’re playing some heavy rock for the first and Linkin Park covers for the next,” said Rohan.
Soundarya PU College’s Goutham M and Sachin V S were at the fest to take part in the face painting competition. "That, and on Saturday, we’ll participate in flower arrangement,” said the former.
The celebrity guests, the actors Malashri and Priyanka Upendra, who flagged off the ongoing event on Friday added to the high energy of the crowd.
The two popular artistes spoke of films just happened to them — while Malashri dreamt of being a pilot as a child, Priyanka had set her sights on becoming an "economist or something like that”.
"And I think cultural events like this are a great place to learn a lot about yourself and help you in challenging yourself,” said Priyanka. Malashri chipped in to thank the college for all the talent it has thrown up for the world to see.
NCC cadet Varada Ranjith, a PUC I student at the host college, was excited to be part of the brigade escorting the celebrities. "Everyone wanted to take selfies with them and our job was to make sure they kept a safe distance. This is my first college fest and it was a really exciting experience,” she said.