Varnothsava 2026 Inaugurated at SMVITM Bantakal on 11 March 2026

Varnothsava-2026, a national-level intercollegiate techno-cultural fest, was inaugurated on 11 March 2026 at Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology and Management (SMVITM), Bantakal. The event began with the traditional lighting of the lamp followed by the unveiling of the Konark Wheel by the dignitaries, marking the formal launch of the two-day celebration of talent, technology, and culture.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Deepak Nayak, Lead Engineer at ClearFeed, Bengaluru, encouraged students to pursue innovation while remaining connected to cultural values. He emphasized that technological progress should go hand-in-hand with creativity and heritage and noted that platforms like Varnothsava allow students to showcase their talents, collaborate with peers, and develop a spirit of healthy competition.

Guest of Honour Ms. Snehal V. Rao, Quantity Surveyor at Simons and Associates, Udupi, advised students to balance cultural values with technological advancement. Comparing college education to obtaining a driver’s license, she explained that academic learning provides the fundamentals, while real understanding begins when students step into the real world and apply their knowledge.

The dignitaries present on the dais included Shri P. Shrinivasa Thantry, Vice President, SSVMET, Udupi; Dr. Radhakrishna S. Aithal, CEO, Sode Group of Institutions; Shri Rathnakumar, Secretary, SSVMET; Dr. Nagaraj Bhat, Principal, SMVITM; and Ms. Savitha A. Shenoy, Cultural Coordinator.

Dr. Radhakrishna S. Aithal, in his address, welcomed participants from various institutions and highlighted SMVITM’s focus on holistic student development. He appreciated the creativity of students and specially acknowledged Mr. Vignesh Kalathur, Lab Instructor from the Mechanical Department, for developing the Konark Wheel, encouraging students to channel their enthusiasm toward academic and professional excellence.

Shri Rathnakumar, Secretary of Shri Sode Vadiraja Mutt Education Trust, described Varnothsava as a vibrant festival that blends technical, cultural, and business events. He stressed the importance of using technology responsibly while preserving cultural values and highlighted the institution’s recent milestone of achieving autonomous status, which helped elevate the fest to a national-level event. He also expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their support.

Earlier, Dr. Nagaraj Bhat, Principal, SMVITM, welcomed the gathering. Dr. Sandhya, Assistant Professor (SG), Department of Physics, announced the winners of the Manthana in-house technical events.

The programme began with an invocation by Ms. Chitkala, a fourth-year CSE student. The event was compered by Ms. Chirashree and Mr. Abhishek Kini, third-year CSE students, and concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Savitha A. Shenoy, Cultural Coordinator.

The fest witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across institutions, setting the stage for an exciting series of technical, cultural, and business competitions.