thousands of students, teachers, parents and alumni, who came to both honour the institution that has helped mould so many lives and to enjoy the various programmes on offer.

The mela started with a cultural show that featured Kumari and lakhe dances. After the traditional performances, it was time for a little rock and roll. Various bands from the college belted out rollicking numbers that had the crowd on their feet and grooving to the music.

The session included performances by YouTube sensation Nattu Shah and 1974’s Adrian Pradhan. Then the crowd got into performance-mode too, as they transformed from an audience into performers themselves: more than 200 students from the college broke out a flash-mob dance that held the visitors in thrall.

There were other kinds of entertainment too, away from the stage, for visitors to indulge in: there were games, business stalls, food stalls and the ever-popular Bingo.

 “This top-notch organisation has been conducting various charity programs in different parts of the world and this mela is certainly a great, fun effort by the Jesuit society, the students and teachers associated with the college,” said Benu Gautam, the A-level Dean and a facilitator at St Xavier’s College.

According to Fr Augustine Thomas, the principal of the college, all proceeds from the event will go towards the ‘St Xavier’s Social Service Fund’. The fund will help support the livelihoods of people living in remote parts of Nepal.

Ghimire is a BSW student at St Xavier’s College, Maitighar