With Oasis only a few days away, the Department of Informalz (Informalz) could be seen keeping the tradition of working diligently for the fest. The Oasis English Press reached out to Saahil Mehta, the Oasis Coordinator, to discuss the lineup of events they had planned for the fest.

Saahil explained that Informalz is responsible for large-scale, fun, and competitive events at every fest and that Oasis follows suit. He added that the department has three signature events each year — Treasure Hunt, “Beg, Borrow, Steal”, and Entertainment Quiz — with the latter being held in collaboration with the English Language Activities Society (ELAS).

Saahil elaborated that Treasure Hunt is the flagship event for the department and sees people racing around the campus, solving clues and perplexing puzzles, from midnight till the wee hours of the morning. Additionally, “Beg, Borrow, Steal” is a scavenger hunt that rewards people based on their creative prowess. He explained that the goal for the participants is to obtain the item written on a piece of paper, but the interpretation of the word written on it is left to their discretion.

Saahil added that Informalz will also be introducing Casino Night to Oasis, after witnessing its success in APOGEE. He stated that the event will allow people to enjoy games such as Blackjack, Poker, and Roulette while immersed in a casino-like setting. Moreover, the event format will be retained, with people being able to come and purchase a certain amount of chips to start with.

Saahil added that the work for the fest started in September, and began with picking out vendors for their events. He remarked that due to the members’ dedication towards their work, nearly 80% of it was finished and the rest could be completed a day or two before the fest. Certain third parties refused to verify this claim. He also felt elated to share that the workforce of the second and first yearites had increased by astronomical numbers for the department. When asked about the workings of Informalz between fests, he stated that they simply hung out and played board games, often enjoying baked delicacies alongside.

Saahil shared that his experience as coordinator had been great so far, but that he would be able to comment on it better once the fest was over. On a parting note, he urged BITSians to at least attend Casino Night to observe the ambience and then decide whether or not to participate.