Niponwave

Yesterday the freshers’ welcome of my department Paharmaceutical Technology, otherwise known as Pharma Phoria, was celebrated with much pomp and grandeur. It is the ceremony or festival -whatever you say- where the seniors welcome the freshers i.e. students of the 1st year. The event was organised in the indoor stadium of our university.

The day, full of activities, began at 10.45 a.m. as a senior teacher of our department ignited the pradeep (lamp) and gave a short speech highlighting the importance of the day.

This was followed by another speech by our Head of the Department (HOD). After this, we went to the stage, one by one, where we were given tilaks on foreheads and sprinkled with a water, rosewater I think — I spoke out my name on the mike and mentioned the school I come from. We were given gift hampers which contained, as I found out latter, a ball pen (Linc Ultra), a folder, a bag , a T-shirt reading “Proud to be a student of Pharmaceutical Technology department Jadavpur University” and a rose. To tell the truth, this was really more than what we could expect.

The cultural programme started after this where students from all years performed. The dance performance by students of 1st year–Dayeeta and Sugata–was great. The solo song by my classmate Aarush “Yaaron dostee…” (about friends and friendship) touched everyone’s heart. The theme song presented by 2nd year studentsgenerated much applause among the audience. Other performances also went on well.

Finally all over and teachers away ;-), we had a dance session. Students from all years took stage in groups, turn by turn, and danced ina frenzy to heart-thumping music.

At 2 pm, we headed to our deparmental building to take the lunch. And it was quite a lunch! The exhaustive menu almost resembled that of a marriage ceremony.There were fried rice, chilly chicken, mutton chop, a vegetable curry, salad, papad, chatney, a big sandesh (kind of Indian sweet), rosogallar payesh (an Indian sweet dessert) and finally ice-cream. We were served generously — I took 2 full servings of fried rice and chilly chicken.

The evening programme started at 5. The antakshari (music contest) and quiz were played with much enthusiasm. Next, a band came up with hard rock music which however did not appeal to many. As night set in, all were seen dancing to the tune of DJ Abhishek’s groovy music. The programme ended at 9.30.

What can I really say but thank my seniors for presenting us with a such a wonderful day packed with with fun, excitement, action and all… Pharma Phoria 2005 was grand by all means.