Melting Pot of Cultures at BITS Pilani Rajasthan Diwali Celebrations

With students from all over the country enrolling for various degrees, the celebrations of any festival at BITS Pilani truly represents melting point of cultures echoing Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's lines in National Anthem - Punjab Sindhu Gujarata Maratha Dravida Utkala Banga.

With the main buildings of the Institute which included the majestic tower that empowers all BITSians and hostels as well faculty quarters illuminated with both ordinary and fancy electric lights, candles and traditional diyas, the entire Pilani campus of Birla Institute of Technology and Science popularly known as BITS was shining on the dark new moon day night of Diwali like a jewel in the crown of the desert state of Rajasthan. Spread over the entire Saturday, the campus had its diwali celebrations in styles of various states of India.

In the morning of the day after Diwali, for the past several decades, BITS Pilani has been having the tradition of celebrating in the workshop of the Institute, pooja for Viswakarma who is considered as the divine engineer and architect according to Hindu mythology. In the eastern parts of India like Bengal, this pooja is celebrated every year on September 17. The southern parts of the country like Tamil Nadu celebrate the ninth day of Dussehra as Ayudha pooja in honour of Viswakarma. This year BITS Pilani celebrated Vishwakarma Pooja on Sunday October 18.

In the evening of the day after Diwali, the Faculty Division II Quadrangle of the Institute witnesses the Diwali Milan anchored by the Staff Association of the Institute in which several songs and dances are performed by members of staff, their wives and children.

For the alumni of BITS spread across various continents from Australia to America, the Diwali celebrations at Pilani always rekindle fond memories of their student years at this top ranking institution.

About BITS Pilani: The Birla Institute of Technology and Science - BITS Pilani is a Deemed to be University established vide Sec.3 of the UGC Act, 1956 under notification No. F.12-23/63.U-2 of June 18, 1964. NAAC - National Assessment and Accreditation Council reaccredited BITS with 3.71 CGPA out of 4 and awarded “A” grade “Very Good” status. BITS offers degrees in various disciplines presently at Pilani, Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad campuses. BITS Pilani has done pioneering work in industry university collaborations in terms of Practice School and Work Integrated Learning Programmes. It is indeed a matter of pride that for the year 2009, BITS Pilani has been ranked among the top ranking universities along with IITs in various Magazine surveys such as India Today, Outlook, LiveMint etc.

Dr BR Natarajan
Professor & Vice President BITS Alumni Association - BITSAA
BITS Pilani Rajasathan 333031 India
Phone 91-1596-242210
Fax 91-1596-244183
Email: brnt(at)bits-pilani.ac.in
Website: http://www.bits-pilani.ac.in

This release was published on openPR.