Fagun

Valia Hall. March 18^th 2019. Holi is the festival of colours, the harbinger of spring. It is the time when the harsh winters are bid adieu, when nature bursts with the myriad hues of regeneration, when the past is forgotten as the people put colours on each other, their lives, to wash the accumulated dirt and grime away, to start anew. One of the major festivals of India, it is perhaps the most apt celebrations that best represents the spirit of the people, the dictum of universal love and fraternity that the Nation stands for.

At the Bhawanipur Education Society College, BESC, Holi is all this … and more. For starters, the celebration is called Fagun – after the month, celebrating the forces of regeneration that Nature unleashes, even as the monochromatic winter is replaced by a burst of colours as if bearing the message that life must go on.

 

 

Secondly, instead of colours, the BESC plays Holi with flowers. Flower petals in their riot of colours and scented hues are thrown at each other – which is as much a celebration of life as it is of nature. Old bonds are renewed in the process, new friendships are forged as tradition meets sustainability in the finest traditions of festivities.

Finally, and most importantly, the BESC celebrates Fagun as its tribute to the silent workers without whose active support the institution cannot run with the clockwork efficiency that it does with. For Fagun is also BESC’s way of honouring its non-teaching staff who are the guests of honour for the day with the students, the members of the faculty and the management choosing to let the fresh spring air into the campus by honouring its Karm-Veers.

This year’s programme started with the customary welcome addresses by Champaklal Doshi, Chairman of the Governing body of the college and Prof Dilip Shah, the Dean of student affairs of the BESC, who felicitated all the members of the non-teaching staff of the college individually.

Flames, the dance collective of BESC staged a special production that was crafted exclusively for the occasion. A stand-up comedy session followed, which was literally a laugh riot. A fashion show was next on the agenda which too was greeted with enthusiasm from all those who were present. As the tempo of the evening reached towards its crescendo, the college music collective aptly named Crescendo took over to add the right notes to the festivities.

Thandai was served and the snacks flew off the counters as the DJ urged all those who had gathered to take to the floor, to welcome the descent of Fagun, even as the flower petals spread their colourful cheer.

Shreeyanshu Mishra and Shivgani Bamalwa did an excellent job as anchors for the evening, their easy chatter and witty repartees adding that special zing to the event.

(This report has been filed by Nikita Mittal along with cameraperson Souvik Das of the expressions collective of the BESC)