Sigaram Youth Fest at SRMIST

Chennai: SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur hosted the 38th AIU Inter-University Youth Festival, SRM SIGARAM. This event marked the centennial year of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). A series of cultural and intellectual events, showcasing the remarkable talents of students from various universities, was the highlight of the Sigaram Youth Fest.
This five-day event featured various cultural performances, with the Founder Chancellor of SRMIST, Dr. T.R. Paarivendhar, inaugurating the fest. In their speeches, SRMIST’s Vice Chancellor and AIU Additional Secretary, Mamta Agarwal, emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and youth empowerment. The event saw participation from over 21 universities from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
The festival featured a wide range of cultural performances from various institutions, including:
• Mahatma Gandhi University: Chenda Melam and Thiruvathirai Kali
• Bharathidasan University: Folk performances with Para drums
• Sri Sankaracharya University: Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, and martial arts
• Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham: Classical Carnatic and Malayalam songs
• Gandhigram Rural Institute: Mayilattam and Oyilattam folk dances
• University of Kerala: Theyyam, Mohiniyattam, and Thiruvathirai Kali
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology: Bharatanatyam, Oyilattam, and a live painting of Raja Raja Cholan
The festival also featured a range of intellectual events, including One Act Play, Debate, Quiz, and On-the-spot painting competitions, where themes such as political issues, social causes, and historical narratives were explored. These events highlighted exceptional creativity, teamwork, and dedication from the participants, leaving a lasting impression on both the audience and the judges.
At the valedictory ceremony, Dr. Nisha Ashokan, Director (Student Affairs) of SRMIST, gave an overview of the event, noting that 21 universities participated in 27 competitions, judged by a panel of 23 distinguished jury members. The chief guest for the valedictory, Mr. R. Clemet Ramesh Kumar, IRS, inspired the students with a speech about chess world champion Gukesh and encouraged them to strive for excellence.
The University of Kerala emerged as the overall trophy winner of the fest. SRMIST was given a standing ovation for its exemplary hosting skills and were appreciated for their team work and organising skills at the valedictory function by all the 1000 + participants and organisers.