Sargam, the annual cultural odyssey of New Horizon Educational Institution (NHEI), has, from 2017 to 2024, metamorphosed from a spirited state-level festivity into a resplendent national spectacle. Its enduring essence lies in its student-centric ethos conceived by students, executed for students, celebrating creativity, collaboration, and cultural plurality. Each edition opens with the dignified lamp-lighting ceremony led by the esteemed Chairman Dr. Mohan Manghnani, signifying the illumination of intellect and art, and setting the tone for days of exuberant expression and youthful dynamism. 

As the flagship cultural fest of NHEI, Sargam has long been regarded as a creative cauldron of talent, imagination, and leadership. What began as a platform for students to showcase creativity, teamwork, and innovation has evolved into a nationally recognised celebration of art, music, dance, drama, technology, and heritage. Each edition presents a unique theme that transforms the NHCE campus into an immersive world art installation, part carnival of culture, encouraging students to express themselves freely while fostering camaraderie and healthy competition. 

Sargam 2017 – ExtraTerrestria: The Dawn of a Legacy 

The inaugural edition of the modern Sargam era, Sargam 2017, unfolded on September 22, 23 with the theme “ExtraTerrestria.” It was a visionary beginning, an intercollegiate extravaganza that attracted over 150 colleges, transforming the NHCE campus into a cosmic playground of creativity. The event was inaugurated by Dr. P.G. Diwakar, Scientific Secretary of ISRO, whose keynote address highlighted ISRO’s role in nation-building through innovations in agriculture, fisheries, and urban development. 

Events that year were crafted around the space theme, ranging from Antariksh, the mega performance that simulated a celestial journey, to competitions like Battle of Bands, Group Dance, Mime, Short Movie Making, Painting, and Gaming. The dazzling Antariksh performance, rich with synchronized visuals and cosmic music, was the undeniable showstopper. New Horizon College, Kasturinagar, triumphed with the top prize of ₹75,000, while St. John’s Medical College claimed the runner-up title. Sargam 2017 was not merely an event-it was the inception of an artistic movement that would soon become synonymous with innovation, collaboration, and youthful vigour across Bangalore. 

Sargam 2018 – Krishna Leela: Magic of the Flute 

Building on this momentum, Sargam 2018, held on September 28,29, celebrated the spiritual playfulness of Krishna Leela – Magic of the Flute. The campus blossomed into a divine Brindavan, replete with peacock feathers, flutes, and pastoral motifs. The event was inaugurated by Shri Vasudeva Keshavadasa, Vice President of ISKCON Bengaluru, who extolled Lord Krishna’s eternal teachings of love, wisdom, and joy. 

Under Dr. Mohan Manghnani’s guidance, Sargam 2018 bridged mythology and modernity. Eighteen star-rated events, including Painting, Mime, Short Movie Making, DJ Wars, and Battle of Bands, reflected the balance between artistic freedom and disciplined performance. The mega event Krishnavatar enthralled audiences through its theatrical retelling of Krishna’s life, enhanced by music, dance, and intricate stagecraft. Culinary stalls offered a medley of traditional and contemporary delights, from chaat to desserts, completing the immersive experience. Through Krishna Leela, SARGAM deepened its identity as a cultural confluence-where divine narrative met youthful interpretation. 

Sargam 2019 – Pancha Bhoota: Essence of the Universe 

By 2019, Sargam had cemented its reputation as Bangalore’s premier intercollegiate fest. The edition, themed Pancha Bhoota – Essence of the Universe, paid homage to the five cosmic elements-earth, water, fire, air, and space. The event, held on September 20,21, was inaugurated by Padma Shri A.S. Kiran Kumar, former ISRO Chairman, whose address reflected on India’s journey through science and cosmic exploration. 

Under the guiding vision of Dr. Mohan Manghnani, the campus was transformed into an ethereal landscape of elemental art installations-flames, flowing water features, wind tunnels, and earthen sculptures-that mirrored the festival’s grand philosophical scope. Twenty star-rated competitions, from Photography (Freeze IT) to DJ Wars, Contemporary Dance, and Maha Tattva (the mega event), celebrated the harmony between nature’s forces and human creativity. Sargam 2019 stood as a synthesis of ancient Indian philosophy, and contemporary aesthetics, a rich sensory experience where sound, colour, and rhythm coalesced into universal harmony. 

Sargam 2020 – A Virtual Odyssey 

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 posed unprecedented challenges, silencing campuses worldwide. Yet, true to its indomitable spirit, SARGAM refused to succumb. The festival reinvented itself as a fully virtual experience, extending across September and October under the theme of “Unity in Diversity.” 

Inaugurated by Dr. Mohan Manghnani, who urged students to view adversity as a catalyst for creativity, the online edition drew participation from over 100 colleges and 10,000 virtual attendees, ultimately reaching over half a million online viewers. The events were Virtual Mime, Digital Art, YouTube Short Films, Live Singing, E-Sports Tournaments, Online Debates, and Photography Contests, all of which exemplified adaptability in the Digital Age. The mega event Digital Tandava was a tour de force, featuring synchronized performances recorded across multiple states and seamlessly edited into a single breathtaking spectacle. 

Supplemented by workshops on mental health, cybersecurity, and digital storytelling, Sargam 2020 stood as a testament to resilience and reinvention. Even through screens, the festival’s beating heart-creativity and connection remained vividly alive. 

Sargam 2022 – The Rudra Factor: Revival and Renewal 

After the pandemic-induced hiatus of 2021, SARGAM reemerged in magnificent style on November 25,26, 2022, with the theme “The Rudra Factor”, celebrating Lord Shiva’s cosmic energy. It marked a triumphant return to the physical campus, symbolizing not merely revival but renewal. Over 15,000 students from 180 colleges thronged the venue, reaffirming Sargam’s status as one of South India’s largest collegiate cultural gatherings. 

The inauguration, graced by Mr. Srinivasan Arunachalam (Group President, Steer Engineering) and Kalanidhi Vidhusi Jyothi M. Chetan, alongside the NHEI leadership, set an auspicious tone. The campus décor mirrored Shiva’s five divine principles as Srishti (creation), Sthithi (preservation), Samhara (destruction), Tirodhana (concealment), and Anugraha (grace) rendered through installations of fire, mirrors, and light. 

Competitions ranged from Filmy and Contemporary Dance to Gaming and Mono Acting, with total prizes exceeding ₹7 lakh. The mega performance, Tandav, was a high-voltage spectacle of rhythmic intensity, embodying cosmic motion through choreography and visual design. Complementary workshops on crypto, metaverse, and salsa expanded the intellectual and creative horizons of participants.  

Once again, New Horizon College, Kasturinagar, clinched the overall championship, while the event’s triumphant energy reaffirmed Sargam’s resilience and grandeur in the post-pandemic era. 

Sargam 2023 – Ramleela: A National Leap 

The year 2023 marked a decisive turning point. Held from December 1st to 3rd, Sargam 2023 elevated itself to a national stage, drawing over 20,000 students from 304 colleges across India under the powerful theme “Ramleela.” The fest explored the timeless ideals of Lord Rama like truth, righteousness, and compassion through the prism of modern art, and performance. 

The inauguration, graced by Dr. Ramesh Aravind, radiated inspiration. Under shimmering lights, the lamp-lighting ceremony invoked divine blessing, and the NHCE campus transformed into Ayodhya itself, alive with thematic murals, epic tableaux, and the scent of festive spirit. 

With total cash prizes of ₹12 lakh, the competitions were diverse and dynamic ranging from Stage Plays, Fashion Shows, and Short Films to Gaming and Musical Acts. The Mega Event – Ram Katha encapsulated the triumph of good over evil through breathtaking visual storytelling, synchronizing dance, music, and projection mapping. 

Sponsors such as Adidas, HDFC Bank, and Indian Bank lent corporate prestige, while performances by Dhvani Bhanushali and DJ Saket Maskara during the valedictory ceremony amplified the festival’s glamour. SARGAM 2023 not only celebrated the moral grandeur of the Ramayana but also signalled the festival’s ascension to national prominence where mythological ethos met celebrity allure in a grand synthesis of art and entertainment. 

Sargam 2024 – Bharat: The Soul of the Nation 

The most recent edition, Sargam 2024, held on November 29, 30, bore the theme “Bharat,” a celebration of India’s timeless spirit, diversity, and valour. By now, Sargam had evolved beyond a college fest for it had become a pan-Indian cultural movement, embodying the vibrancy of youth and the unity of the nation’s creative forces. 

Inaugurated by Dr. Mohan Manghnani, the event called upon students to rediscover India’s heritage through art, performance, and innovation. With participation from 365 colleges and more than 10,000 students, the NHCE campus pulsated with energy, transformed into a living tapestry of Indian civilization from ancient epics to modern aspirations. 

The bazaar-style food stalls, traditional installations, and workshops on digital storytelling and crafts created an atmosphere where history met futurism. Competitions spanned music, dance, theatre, and gaming, with total prize money exceeding ₹10 lakh. The crowning glory was the Mega Event – Bharat Katha, a breathtaking symphony of synchronized dance, multimedia visuals, and live music narrating India’s journey from mythology to modernity. 

The crescendo arrived with Bollywood Badshah’s electrifying performance, featuring a flash mob and live jukebox concert that ignited the crowd. The event epitomized Sargam’s new identity that was highly rooted in Indian culture, yet unafraid of contemporary expression. It was both a tribute to the soul of India and a testament to the boundless creativity of its youth. 

Thematic Continuity and the Essence of Sargam 

Across its evolution from Antariksh to Bharat Katha, Sargam has maintained an unwavering thematic sophistication. Each year’s theme acts as both inspiration and framework that transforms the NHCE campus into an immersive world that stimulates intellectual curiosity as much as artistic passion. 

Key hallmarks such as the star-rated events, the Mega Event, and the food-and-bazaar arena have remained integral to Sargam’s identity. Together, they create a multidimensional experience that engages every sense, blending competition, creativity, and community celebration. Prizes ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹1 lakh per event underscore the fest’s professional calibre, while the Overall Championship Trophy fuels friendly intercollegiate rivalry. 

Equally crucial is Sargam’s “student-first” ethos. Every edition is conceptualized, managed, and executed by students under faculty guidance, offering real-world lessons in leadership, coordination, and creative problem-solving. The introduction of student innovations like the lotus souvenir in 2022 reflects the event’s evolving dynamism. 

From State to Nation: The Evolutionary Arc 

Sargam’s trajectory mirrors India’s own cultural journey from local celebration to national integration. 

• 2017–2019 showcased mytho-scientific themes and ISRO collaborations, reflecting India’s space-age aspirations. 

• 2020 marked resilience and reinvention through digital transformation. 

• 2022 heralded rebirth through Shiva’s cosmic energy. 

• 2023 and 2024 cemented Sargam’s stature as a national-level extravaganza, uniting diverse institutions under one cultural banner. 

This ascent was accompanied by increasing corporate partnerships, celebrity endorsements, and record-breaking participation. Yet, despite its scale, Sargam has preserved its soul, rooted in artistic sincerity and cultural reverence. 

Beyond Festivity, Toward a Movement 

From its cosmic inception in ExtraTerrestria to its patriotic crescendo in Bharat, Sargam’s eight editions narrate a saga of creativity, resilience, and evolution. It has transcended its role as a college fest to become a living institution of art and youth empowerment, a national cultural phenomenon that mirrors the aspirations of 21st-century India. 

Each edition has fostered not only artistic excellence but also essential life skills essential for students as teamwork, leadership, communication, and adaptability. Even in moments of crisis, such as the pandemic, Sargam proved that culture and creativity are indomitable forces that can thrive in any medium, either on campus or online. 

Today, Sargam Fest stands as Bangalore’s premier cultural festival, a beacon of innovation and heritage that continues to inspire generations. Through the rhythmic pulse of its performances, the radiance of its art, and the unity of its participants, Sargam embodies the spirit of India itself diverse, dynamic, and eternally creative. Sargam 2025 will be coming to India on November 15th and 16th of 2025 to paint the country red with the vibrant patriotic theme of Operation Sindoor at the historic Sargam Fest’s key location at New Horizon Knowledge Park, Marathahalli, Bangalore.