The one-day event was attended by 600 people including students from other universities and colleges.
Early this year, the students had taken the initiative to raise funds to put up the Akshaya event which showcased a celebration of Indian heritage for youths to keep in touch with their culture.
During the event at QIUP’s premises, students from different colleges challenged one another in traditional games like kabadi, uriyadi (smashing a hanging pot with a long stick while blindfolded), thoranam (festoon), eating sugar cane and “holi wars” (throwing of coloured powder).
Apart from the games, the students also formed teams to compete in the designing of the 1Malaysia kolam as well as the Ponggal-making competitions.
During the closing ceremony, the students performed colourful cultural dances like the 1Malaysia dance, Bharathanathiyam and an Indian folk dance which was followed by the urumi drums performance.
QIUP director of students affairs Assoc Prof S. Chandrasegaran said the event provided an opportunity for the students to relive and promote the Tamil heritage through traditional games and competitions which the younger generations rarely have a chance to see nor participate in it.
“The event also allow students from various colleges and universities to interact and at the same time learn to appreciate the cultural heritage of different races,” he said.
Meanwhile, QIUP Hindu Society president M. Kuhanish said the event saw the students keenly organising the Akshaya which honed their leadership skills and foster greater unity among students.
Guest-of-honour was former special adviser to the Menteri Besar of Perak Datuk S. Veerasingam who gave away prizes to the winners.
Final-year business student with QIUP P. Arvin, 25, said the event was an eye-opener for him as he did not know there were such traditional Indian games like kabadi and uriyadi.
Irvine Mesengki, 20, who is a first-year student pursuing bio-technology, said she enjoyed the traditional dance performances put up by the students.
Teo Yew Yeh, who is doing a foundation course in science, said the event exposed him to the Indian heritage games and dance performances.
“I hope other universities and colleges will continue to organise such heritage-related events to keep the various cultures alive for the benefit of the younger generations,” said the 18-year-old student.
-NST
