Alcheringa 2016, IIT Guwahati :: A Report

Akriti Kaur *

Alcheringa 2016, IIT Guwahati

Wipro Limited presents Alcheringa, IIT Guwahati one of the largest cultural festivals was back for its mammoth 20th Edition, Gamescape! With National level competitions, world-class concerts and exciting games, it is a fun package for people of all ages and interests.

The four-day extravaganza began on the 28th of January 2016. On the opening night of Saaz, the Classical Night, Sarod Masters Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan put the audience in a trance with their strings. Later that night, Youtube sensation and Fusion band, The Indian Jam Project amazed the crowd with their renditions of classic pieces like Yiruma’s ‘River Flows in You’ and Requiem for a Dream’s ‘Lux Aeterna’.

The first day saw a multitude of participants lining up for events like Rock-o-phonix - the Rock Band competition, Electric Heels - the Group Dance competition and Voice of Alcheringa - the Solo Singing competition. This edition saw over 4000 participants from 400 colleges across the nation. This speaks volumes about the kind of exposure participants get in their respective fields. With exciting prizes and internships up for grabs, it was an inspiring sight to see everyone give their all!

Alcheringa 2016, IIT Guwahati :: Haute Couture, the Fashion Designing Competition

That afternoon, Irish band Fasta gave Guwahati a taste of Irish Folk music. The Second night, Blitzkreig, the EDM night began with a mind-numbing performance by Ouzo Bazooka the Psychedelic Rock Band from Israel. They then paved the way for artists Dualist Inquiry and Sandunes who made the crowd go berserk with their unique mix of Electronica, Rock and Dubstep.

With general public in high spirits, Alcheringa headed into its Second Day. The competitions were in full flow and the campus was in a huge hubbub. Enthusiastic youngsters rehearsing their moves and lines for that one final push to success, organisers meticulously executing the plans developed over the course of the last year and people flocking to stages to watch performances of their choice, IIT Guwahati is probably the busiest during Alcheringa every year.

Also the campus was gearing up to welcome Mika Singh. Organisers expected swarms of people and crowd managers were on their toes. The evening witnessed a mellow but groovy exhibition of contemporary Jazz by Tropic Green from Singapore.

Alcheringa 2016, IIT Guwahati :: Mika Singh making the crowd go frenzy

Then came the most awaited spectacle of Alcheringa 2016, Bollywood Singer, Songwriter and Composer King Mika Singh! The crowd roared and cheered as he belted out his hit numbers like “Apni To Jaise Taise“, “Subah Hone Na De” and “Mauja Hi Mauja”. He also performed his upcoming Single “Billo”. The crowd was famished from the whirling and twirling and headed to the food stalls to end the night.

Food at Alcheringa is an adventure. One can taste every kind of cuisine, ranging from Manipuri to Classic South Indian in these food stalls. It truly is a foodie’s delight!

Alcheringa 2016, IIT Guwahati :: Amaan Ali Khan weaving magic with his Sarod

On the final day, all the competitions came to a close. The World Record for the Largest Human Formation of a Currency Symbol was broken by the revellers. Later in the night, Meta-Stasis, an Extreme Technical Metal band from the UK, warmed up the stage for the arrival of Korpiklaani. Korpiklaani, the Folk Metal Band from Finland were one of the most awaited acts of Alcheringa 2016! Fans poured into the campus from all around the State and Country. They made the crowd swoon to their classic hits like ‘Vodka’ and ‘Ievan Polka’. People could be seen headbanging to their numbers and lost in them.

Every year, Alcheringa makes it a point to double their efforts in every domain and take the festival one notch further. The Eternal Dreamtime is not a something which comes to life again every year but rather something which grows over the course of the year to be displayed in a different fashion. You will be missed Alcheringa! See you next year!

Finnish Metal Band Korpiklaani on the last night