Amiphoria 2023: Unravelling a Treasure of Talents and Scripting History as we welcome the Basant Utsav (Holi)

As per Indian Scriptures and ancient history, Holi is one of the most revered festivals of India that brings jubilation among all age groups, starting from kids, children, adolescents, and adults to senior citizens. It fosters feelings of jubilation and enormous joy. It is synonymous with the eternal and divine love between the gods Radha and Krishna. It signifies the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, happiness over sorrow, and commemorates the victory of the god Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu, the great demon. This festival is a favourite for students and has predominantly been celebrated in the Indian subcontinent. However, over a period of time, it has been spread widely to other regions of Asia and various parts of the Western world by the Indian diaspora and gained huge popularity.

With the dawn of Basant (spring), when the mood is all set for celebrations, Amiphoria, the popular annual fest of Amity University brings forth a plethora of opportunities for the brilliant youth of the university and other lead universities and colleges to take part in. An array of novel activities is lined up for three days back to back, which are so exciting, promising, and fulfilling that each student enjoys to the fullest. Students also celebrate the events of past years at the fest.

The fun-packed annual fest of Amity University, Kolkata takes place somewhere in the last week of February or early March each year. The event is highly awaited by and cherished by students as it provides them with the perfect platform to showcase their talents on the unmatched platform of Amity University, Kolkata.

The sole aim of the three-day festival is to make a congregation of dazzling students from various strata of society, who can exhibit and unleash their latent talents. It not only opens numerous avenues for the mutual sharing of their unique experiences, extraordinary skills, and talents but also instils a great sense of togetherness, brotherhood, sportsmanship, and camaraderie through participating in a variety of events. It enlightens for them the path to success and propels each student to aspire and climb the ladders of success in the fields of literature, drama, music, dance, art, craft, gaming, fashion, theatre, journalism, media, filming, science, robotics, business, leadership, computing, resource generation, photography, multiple sports and many more.

The name of the event—Amiphoria--is thought-provoking and very apt and contemporary as it signifies the essence of the theme. A few events include Shark Pool, Impromptu, Unbolted, Rural- Le-Carte, Taal se Taal, Burn the Dance Floor, etc., and they all resonate in the minds of students and serve to create natural bonding and rejuvenation.

Let me now dwell a bit on the relationship between the season of Basant and Amiphoria. Basant is synonymous with vibrant and myriad colours as nature blooms to its fullest. She drapes and adorns herself in many exotic and exclusive ways and so does mankind. February and early March is the time when the highest magnitude of energy radiates automatically all around the environment and among youth and adults as well. The people from the sacred soil of West Bengal celebrate Dol Yatra (Holi) and the youth of the country spring into action with fun-filled activities. That is why Amity University Kolkata chooses this as the right time for Amiphoria, when a mystic aura gets blended with the charming elan of this place, the City of Joy, and gives rise to an elated sense of joy, fervour, gaiety, grandeur, and unleashes the enormous potential of talented students.

Wishing you a very happy Dol Yatra (Holi)!!

Jai Hind!!

This article is written by Prof (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chancellor of the Amity University, about what Basant Utsav and Dol Jatra means to him and it's intrinsic link with Amiphoria, the annual fest celebrated at Amity University at this time of the year.