Upon arriving at BITS, freshers are exposed to a deluge of cultures, experiences, and traditions. Adapting can be overwhelming for some, so Cultural Associations—or “Assocs”—provide a sense of familiarity to help new students navigate college life.
Members of these Assocs are kindred spirits, coming from the same regions and sharing common languages. They bond over their shared culture, organise events, and celebrate their state holidays. Assoc membership is not limited to students only: many professors actively participate in the activities of their Assoc.
Each Assoc conducts three major events in a year: a Cultural night, a Grub, and a Founder’s Day performance. Cultural night serves as an exhibition of performances including dance, music, drama, and stand-up comedy. Grub is a food event where an Assoc prepares cultural meals and serves them at a mess allocated to them. On Founder’s Day, each Assoc gets stage time to display their culture as they wish.
Cultural Associations are important organisations that are vital to the BITSian experience. Not everyone feels the need to participate in the activities of an Assoc, but most take the opportunity to expose themselves to new cultures. The BITSian community is diverse, with members coming from different parts of a vast country. Assocs play a meaningful role in helping everyone embrace different cultures.
Here’s a list of all operational associations on the Pilani campus:
- Maharashtra Mandal (Maharashtra)
- Kannada Vedike (Karnataka)
- Pilani Tamil Mandalam (Tamil Nadu)
- Madhyansh (Madhya Pradesh)
- Marudhara (Rajasthan)
- Delhi Capitol (NCR)
- Punjab Cultural Association (Punjab)
- Haryana Cultural Association (Haryana)
- Maurya Vihar (Bihar, Jharkhand)
- Moruchhaya (West Bengal)
- Arunoday (North-East India)
- Sangam (Uttar Pradesh)
- Gurjari (Gujarat)
- Andhra Samiti (Telangana, Andhra Pradesh)
- Kairali (Kerala)
- Udgam (J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh)