Delhi University's annual fest budget runs into lakhs

Organisers hire actors, singers, rock bands to attract crowd

With the start of Delhi university's fest season,  many well-known colleges have proposed budgets in lakhs in the race to be tagged as the 'best fest' of the university.

“Last year the budget was way down around Rs 20-25 lakh. This year we have proposed a budget of Rs 52 lakh for our fest 'Renaissance'. The principal is helping us a lot in getting sponsors. We are positive that we will be able to get the amount,” said Abhishek, president of Kirori Mal College.

In a bid to make it big this year, talk forcalling actors, Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan, are on. “Singer Shaan is also coming for a performance. It will be our special attraction this year and there will be a Sufi night also,” he said.

Last year, Singer Shivani Kashyap was the star attraction of the fest, but she did not pull much crowd.

“We are hoping this year our fest will be a hit as the star quotient is much higher, thus a high budget,” a member of the student’s union of the college said. The fest is tentatively planned for the last week of February.

Students of Hindu College are also hoping to get similar amount of money for their annual fest ‘Mecca’. “I cannot disclose the exact budget right now. But it is over Rs 40 lakhs.

Star attraction will be a rock band,” said a member of the student’s union.
Sriram College of Commerce did not disclose their proposed budget for the fest ‘Crossroads’, but its union members guess it to be over Rs 50 lakhs.

“It is one of the most sought after fest in the campus and it gets better and bigger every year,” a student of SRCC said.

Delhi university's fests are much awaited by the students and prominent colleges in the campus pump in a lot of money for it. The teachers are of the view that the amount of money being used in fests for the past few years has increased unbelievably.

“I had been an active member in organising Mecca when I was a student. But, we never needed so much money.

Yes, the times have changed.

“The fests before used to be a cultural forum for students to participate, now they need a star to add value and pull in the crowd,” said a professor of English atHindu College.

Star attractions
Ramjas College has also chalked out a budget of around Rs 40 lakhs.
“This is the time when students are a little burden free. The exams are just over, there is not much pressure of studies. So we just need to use that to our advantage. We are also getting a star, most probably a singer for this year's fest ‘Mosaic’,” said Parveen Rathi, one of the student organiser of the fest.

“Last year we got a western band Stereo Nation which got a great response, this year it will be bigger,” he added. Tentatively the fest will start from the second week of February.

While Miranda House's fest ‘Tempest’, planned to take place after February 15, will witness a DJ concert and a Rock Band show, as their special attractions.

“The budget is much higher this year. We have proposed a budget of around Rs 30-40 lakh. Getting sponsors will not be a problem as the fest is well known,” said Daisy, member of the student’s union.

While Daulat Ram College is keeping the budget around Rs 20 lakh, they are planning to call Mohit Chauhan as the star attraction. The fest will take place in the last week of February, said a member of student’s union.