The festival saw participation from more than 10 colleges, with around 500 students taking part in a range of events.

The festival opened with an inaugural ceremony attended by Sikkim Manipal University Vice Chancellor Dr Gopalakrishna Prabhu as the chief guest, along with senior officials, invited dignitaries and guests. The programme began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by a welcome address by Associate Director (Student Affairs) and Chief Coordinator of Kaalrav 2026 Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Chettri.

Director In-Charge of SMIT Prof. (Dr.) Sangeeta Jha addressed the gathering and spoke about the role of cultural platforms in encouraging creativity, talent and student engagement. Vice President of the Student Council Dennis Ningombam presented an overview of Kaalrav while welcoming participants from other institutions and acknowledging the support of sponsors and media partners.

The inaugural evening featured cultural performances including state dances representing Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali traditions. Student clubs also presented a fusion performance, while other segments included a Bihu dance, a Maruni folk dance and performances by staff members. The evening concluded with a live performance by artist Albert Kabo Lepcha.

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The second day featured competitions and activities such as Solo Singing (Western), Photography, Face Painting and Solo Dancing (Western). Participants also took part in Trifecta, an event designed to test multiple creative skills, while a Fashion Show was held in the evening. A Battle of Bands competition was also organised, with several groups performing live. The day concluded with a performance by Navjot Ahuja during the Pronite segment.

On the final day, events included Rolling Frames, Solo Singing (Eastern), Treasure Hunt and Real Cricket. Cultural performances continued with Solo Dance (Eastern), followed by the Mr & Ms Kaalrav competition.

The festival concluded with a valedictory ceremony where Prof. (Dr.) Pankaj Chettri and Prof. (Dr.) Sangeeta Jha congratulated the participants and acknowledged the efforts of the organising team. A Mangar dance performance was also presented during the closing ceremony. Certificates and prizes were distributed to winners across more than 20 competitive events conducted during the festival.

The programme ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Cultural Secretaries of the Student Council Jay Kumar Gang and Afsa, who expressed appreciation to the university administration, faculty coordinators, sponsors, media partners, volunteers and participants.

The closing evening also featured a live performance by playback singer Ash King, marking the final segment of the festival.

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