Indie artistes are born at college fests: Palash Sen at JU

Euphoria’s social media post after their April 5 performance at FETSU Sanskriti 2026 has triggered a much-needed conversation around college fest line-ups and audience preferences. At JU, these assumptions were yet again dismantled. Across the SFSU (Science) and FETSU (Engineering) fest line-ups, each night drew huge crowds. From Naalayak and Parikrama to Euphoria, students showed up in thousands, proving their tastes are more diverse than industry gatekeepers assume.

Students show up for every act

The SFSU (Science Faculty Students’ Union) fest, held over three days, saw an overwhelming turnout, with the final day drawing the biggest footfall. Swastika Ghosh (UG II, Department of Physics) and part of the SFSU organising committee, recalls “an overwhelming crowd where every line-up had its own energy,” adding that Naalayak drew a “distinct kind of craze,” while Bhoomi’s return after 2004 had “the crowd dancing to Barandaye Roddur”. She adds that bands like Hooligaanism are “really resonating with us right now,” making the frenzy hard to put into words. That energy carried into the FETSU (Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union) leg. As organising committee member Dipesh Mahato notes, “there was a massive crowd across all days.” Managing the surge required planning, with volunteers stationed across the venue. Euphoria’s closing set, he adds, “brought the festival to a high-energy close.”

SFSU Sanskriti lineup:

• March 26: Hooligaanism
• March 27: Naalayak
• March 28: Bhoomi; Prithibi

FETSU Sanskriti lineup:

• March 28: Swastik, the Band (Salt Lake campus)
• March 31: Chhau dance performance by folk artistes
• April 2 (Eastern Night): Pakshee
• April 3 (Western Night): Arogya
• April 4 (Reunion Night): Parikrama and friends
• April 5 (Final Night): Euphoria

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