Skip to main content
The Somaiya Survival Manual • Chapter 10

Events, Fests & How to Survive Them

Pages 157-168

Events, Fests & How to Survive Them

The Festival Calendar

Somaiya's event calendar is packed. Here's what to expect:

Abhiyantriki (Technical Fest)

  • When: Usually January-February
  • What: Technical competitions, workshops, hackathons
  • Who: Engineering students primarily, but open events too
  • Pro tip: Participate in at least one event—resume gold

Symphony (Cultural Fest)

  • When: February-March
  • What: Music, dance, drama, fashion, art
  • Who: All colleges, external participants
  • Pro tip: Volunteer for organizing—networking heaven

Sportsweek

  • When: December-January
  • What: Inter-college, intra-college sports
  • Who: Athletes and spectators
  • Pro tip: Even watching is worth it for the atmosphere

Department Events

  • What: Smaller, focused technical/cultural events
  • When: Throughout the year
  • Pro tip: These are easier to win and still count on resume

How to Actually Participate

As a Participant

  • Register early (slots fill up)
  • Read rules thoroughly
  • Practice with team beforehand
  • Show up on time (sounds obvious, isn't)

As an Organizer

  • Join committees in Year 1 or 2
  • Start with smaller responsibilities
  • Document your work (photos, feedback, numbers)
  • Build relationships across departments

As a Spectator

  • Still worth your time
  • Network with organizers and sponsors
  • Take notes on what works
  • Apply insights to your own events

Survival Strategies

Physical Survival

  • Wear comfortable shoes (you'll walk A LOT)
  • Stay hydrated
  • Pack snacks (food lines are long)
  • Sunscreen for outdoor events
  • Portable charger is essential

Social Survival

  • Use events to meet people outside your class
  • Exchange numbers/Instagram
  • Follow up after the event
  • Don't be a wallflower—introduce yourself

Academic Survival

  • Professors know about fest dates
  • Some are lenient, some aren't—know the difference
  • Don't bunki important submissions for fests
  • Balance is key

Making the Most of Fests

For Your Resume

  • Every event you participate in = one line
  • Every organizing role = leadership experience
  • Winning isn't necessary—participating is
  • Collect certificates like Pokémon

For Your Network

  • Meet people from other colleges
  • Connect with sponsors (future job leads)
  • Build relationships with organizing committee
  • Exchange LinkedIn, not just Instagram

For Actual Fun

  • Yes, fests are supposed to be fun
  • Don't make everything transactional
  • Enjoy performances
  • Make memories worth keeping

The Dark Side of Fests

What to Watch Out For

  • Burnout from over-commitment
  • Drama in organizing committees
  • Political fights over positions
  • Spending too much money on merchandise

How to Avoid Problems

  • Set boundaries on time commitment
  • Stay out of committee politics
  • Budget for fest season
  • Know when to step back

Specific Fest Hacks

Food Fest Survival

  • Eat early (lines get insane)
  • Share with friends (more variety)
  • Bring water (too much salt)
  • Save room for the good stalls

Technical Event Survival

  • Practice your project demo
  • Have backup plans for tech failures
  • Dress appropriately (no formals for hackathons)
  • Sleep before all-nighters

Cultural Event Survival

  • Reserve front row early
  • Charge your phone for videos
  • Coordinate with friends for saving seats
  • Dress up—it's part of the experience

Fests are the highlight reel of college. Show up, participate, make memories. You'll miss them when they're gone.