With Oasis ’26 drawing closer, the Oasis English Press sat down with Akhil Dhara, Coordinator of the Culinary Club, to gain an insight into their involvement and preparations for the upcoming fest.

Akhil introduced the Culinary Club as a platform for anyone interested in cooking or various cuisines, ranging from beginners to advanced enthusiasts. He highlighted that beyond honing cooking skills, the club also provided members with valuable event management experience. For Oasis this year, the club would host its legacy event, the Pizza Workshop at VKB Mess, alongside two new additions, a Shawarma stall and a Mocktail stall. To integrate the fest’s theme, Dawn of the Djinns, the stalls would adopt an Arabian Nights aesthetic through decorations. 

Elaborating on their logistics and sourcing, Akhil shared that ingredients for the Pizza Workshop were managed in collaboration with SSMS. In contrast, the equipment and supplies for the Shawarma stall were rented from external vendors and Mocktail preparations were sourced entirely via direct market purchases. He noted that the workload was only a few hours and was grateful for his hardworking team.

He said the StuCCA had been cooperative regarding funding and approvals, adding that legacy events like the Pizza Workshop generally underwent smoother pitching due to guaranteed returns for the fest ledger. 

Concluding, he advised freshers to spend responsibly during the fest, and urged all students to explore the fest events, make fond memories, and balance academics along with enjoying campus life.