The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) cancelled all pre-registrations for its Mood Indigo cultural festival on December 16. The institute also stopped entry for all outsiders. This decision followed severe overcrowding and traffic congestion at campus gates.
Thousands gathered outside the campus. Social media reports showed extensive queues and dense crowds. These conditions caused significant inconvenience around the institute’s main entry points.
Festival Overview
Mood Indigo is IIT Bombay’s annual cultural festival. It runs from December 16 to December 18. The festival typically includes concerts, performances, fashion showcases, art installations, and interactive sessions. It traditionally allowed entry to the general public, drawing large numbers of students and visitors from across India.
Crowd Management Challenges
On December 16, the volume of attendees overwhelmed campus access points. This led to a breakdown in crowd control measures. The institute cited safety concerns as the primary reason for implementing immediate restrictions.
Institute Actions
IIT Bombay officials announced the cancellation of all existing pre-registrations for festival events. The new policy restricted entry solely to registered participants and residents of the IIT Bombay campus. This measure aimed to restore order and ensure participant safety within the festival premises.
Impact on Attendees
Many individuals, including some with pre-registrations and entry bands, reported being denied access. Attendees had traveled significant distances to participate in the festival. The sudden policy change caused widespread disappointment among those unable to enter.
Some students expressed frustration regarding communication about the entry changes. They stated that while administration emails mentioned new restrictions, many outsiders continued attempting entry. This further complicated crowd management efforts.
Affected Events and Performances
The revised entry policy directly impacted access to high-profile events. Scheduled evening concerts featured artists such as Sonu Nigam and the hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut. Interactive sessions with actors Vicky Kaushal, Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Rakul Preet Singh, and Jaideep Ahlawat were also part of the festival’s lineup over the subsequent days. Access to these events became limited to authorized individuals only.
Organisational Response
Organizing team members acknowledged the scale of the event presented significant logistical challenges. They emphasized extensive efforts to ensure a positive experience for attendees. Despite these efforts, the unprecedented crowd size on December 16 necessitated the emergency entry restrictions.
Current Status
IIT Bombay implemented strict entry controls for the remainder of Mood Indigo. The festival continued with restricted access, prioritizing campus residents and pre-verified participants. The institute maintains its commitment to safety while managing the large-scale cultural event.