DIWALI MAINS-the 'ILLUMINATION'

'THE prelims was over.Now hectic preparation for the mains followed'.

              I am not talking about civil services here. It is Diwali, and there will be ‘bawali’ (loosely translated, means euphoria akin to running amok).

                Illumination is arguably one of the best things that happen in IIT KGP. Result of hard toil and sleepless nights,’ illumination’ or ‘illu’ is inimitable. All hostels of IIT KGP run their imagination wild, showcase different themes etched in fire and colour, steal hearts and eyeballs subtly.

                Analogous to Panchtantra, the illumination is feast for eyes and food for thought. Among themes displayed in 2013, many were related to current issue of women vulnerability in chauvinistic society. Some displayed Sachin as GOD of cricket, apt gift from KGPians for his near future retirement.

                We started our journey from MMM, and the first hall was Acharaya JC Bose. Lights were put off for the whole road and hostels. Everybody moved like fluid in a pipe, towards the destination. We made queue outside the gate for 15 mins, waiting for the judges to arrive. The SIS guards and Bengal police were controlling the proceeding. With all lights switched off, pitch darkness engulfed IIT with occasional starry flashes of androids and guards torch. The judges arrived and took their time to evaluate. Subsequently we were allowed to enter.

                Later we went to MT hall which is a ladies hostel. The crowd was breath taking, and I mean literally. With all those carbon dioxide, we were suffocating. The kumb mela of IIT KGP had its own mind. There were chants of ‘hamala karo!, gate thod do’(attack!,break the gate) doing rounds. As the gates opened, the student fought among them to gain entry.It was like millions of sperms rushing, pushing each other to reach the target.

                The entry to of ladies hostel was a narrow gate. A gate too narrow for a bulging testosterone crowd. the sperms ,ohh my bad, the students were crushing each other to get in. My two friends were literally buried under pile of bellies, sandwiching them like mashed potatoes. They were resurrected by grace of god. They vowed not to enter any other hall with this mad rush, eventually ending up in worse situation at another girl’s hostel.

                This time we successfully penetrated the fort of human barricades only to find hostel warden earnestly urging us to vacate the hall. We left high and dry. Ate chicken muglai and proceeded to other halls. There was maddening rush of best brains in the country everywhere wandering frantically. Finally I ended my journey at LBS with fine display of fireworks.

A heart warming feeling of unity was among the students.

               A balm for mental agony of gruelling competition, a luminosity showdown with mind of its own, a message for future generations, a matchless tradition of IIT KGP, ILLU continues to radiate its charisma.

DIWALI PRELIMS

                             Diwali is aptly called festive of lights. It commemorates the return of lord Ram after 14 years of exile. Auyodhya was decorated like a newlywed bride full of glow and radiance. Even sun god  doubted whether he was looking at his own reflection in Auyodhya.

IIT KGP has magnificent tradition of celebration of Diwali -‘the ILLUMINATION’. ILLUMINATION or popular nickname ‘IlLU’, is one of the fondest memories in heart of all kgpians. ILLU rekindles fire of unity and prosperity in India and is revered among KGP students of all religion, caste, status and gender.It is a lighting extravaganza like no other.

                My first ILLU happened first year Mtech in 2013.diwali have always been notorious in arousing the shopping beast in Indians. We were also no different. Some of us wanted kurta, some hunted for discount offers and many including me accompanied those someone. We wanted to make it big and what’s better than the big bazaar.

PHOTO CREDIT IITPRO.ORG

               

 ‘But first ...we have to go to railway station’; ’........is lord coming by train this year’, quipped someone. One of the guys parent came KGP to give traditional facial for Diwali...It was a tradition and people washed with it. It is considered pious. I always had difficulty in imagining Arnold putting 'fair and handsome' after doing gym. Hats off sharukh for becoming make up badshah.He suggests 'MEN need something more'. So dab more 'fair and lovely (ohh sorry! 'fair and handsome') to have amazing personality.That with it, I would be glowing and making everybody dizzy. I refused to believe a paste can alter your DNA and change a book worm to book-GLOW-worm.A typical marketing bait and unfourtunately men are falling for it. Unlike it,his parent were passing forth a lovely custom with act of washing signifying the physical and spiritual essence of reformation in human life.

                After drinking gana juice and 2 rs tea that too in ghee lamps (diyas), we proceeded to big bazaar. Shopping loot followed. Kurtas, winter jackets, Maggie and what not. A long bill of size of a man ended the loot.              

After that eating competition started with everyone eating everything irrespective of what was the order .I got knocked out in first round itself. Others endured several rounds while I made rounds of the store. Finally Muhammad Ali of ID department defeated the bad ass Mike Tyson of transportation. Our mike Tyson was hungry, hungry for more.

                To provide adequate security, our transportation Mike Tyson was surrounded by secret service agents. The whole people in shopping mall were in for a riot. 7 of us encircled him. Some of them were calling for area commander, clearing the area, checking perimeter, all alert and inspecting any suspicious activity. Sporting a ray ban, our guy was in fits of laughter. Smile broke among the onlookers; some had no clue what the ‘beep’ was going on.

                Final activity was the Kali Puja 2 O clock at night.

(to be continued)...