Amit Trivedi, Performing POP Night at Saarang 2025 in IIT, Madras on Monday.
| Photo Credit: VELANKANNI RAJ B

The last day of Saarang 2025 on Monday looked exactly how it should – stalls had begun to wind down by afternoon. There was excitement about the upcoming pop night – when music composer and singer Amit Trivedi will regale his audience.  

Some students were already looking ahead – to the beginning of the next semester and the academic work they will begin on Friday. 

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras’ cultural festival Saarang, and technical festival Shaastra, mark the end of the long winter vacation that students enjoy. “Students have already returned early from the vacation,” explained Devika Aravind, a 1^st year mechanical engineering student, who volunteered at Saarang this year. 

Usha, a 2^nd year student of chemistry, decided to head back to the hostel as she had to prepare for an upcoming entrance exam for higher studies. Her classmate and friend, Saloni Gupta, who is planning to do PhD in the United Kingdom, wasn’t done yet.  

“We are very enthusiastic, making the most of our last year on the campus,” she said. “We are here for 2 years only. In the first year we were curious to know about the campus. This year’s theme is better than last year I feel,” she said.  

The students had their portrait done by aspiring cartoonist Sivaprakash M. To get a portrait done one has to spin a wheel. If the pin drops on ‘dare’ then the student is given a task to perform. On successful completion of the task the artist will do the portrait.  

Sivaprakash, 22, is a self-made artist with no formal training. He hails from Ramanathapuram and in Chennai he is pursuing a course in animation at an institute in Porur.  

At Indie music and hip hop fest groups of performers danced and sang with a professionalism that drew crowds.

In one stall students got free make up; a canvas for live graffiti had students scribbling happily; and the food stalls were a hit with youngsters as they offered everything from idli to momos and mouthwatering, aromatic dishes. 

Saarang 2025 is presented by The Hindu.