Kaleido Fest 2025: A two-day celebration of diversity and creativity at ULAB

Kaleido Fest 2025, held on 23 and 24 April at the ULAB Permanent Campus, was a vibrant celebration of creativity, cultural diversity, and inclusion.

Organised by the ULAB Kaleidoscope Club, the two-day festival showcased Bangladesh's rich artistic and cultural traditions, with special emphasis on ethnic minorities, through performances, stalls, and engaging activities.

The festivities began with inspiring speeches from esteemed ULAB faculty members, who emphasised the importance of creativity, diversity, and inclusion in campus life.  Syeda Sadia Mehjabin praised the Kaleidoscope Club for its efforts, expressing hope for future achievements and highlighting its role in fostering creativity and positive campus engagement. Following her speech, Andalib Rubayat spoke on the importance of supporting diversity and tolerance and strengthening the university and society.

The Registrar of ULAB, Lt Col Md. Foyzul Islam (Retd) and other distinguished guests officially inaugurated the festival with a cake-cutting ceremony, symbolising unity and celebration.

Visitors explored vibrant stalls throughout the day, which offered handmade jewellery, accessories, perfumes, face art, and paintings. Stall owners expressed their appreciation for the festival's inclusivity and the enthusiastic response from attendees, particularly praising the connection to Bengali and ethnic cultures displayed through face art and paintings.

UKC President MD Forhad Hossein Forid shared his excitement, noting that this was the first time ULAB students experienced such a dynamic and colourful festival.

The energy continued with a thrilling flash mob performance between 3:20 PM and 3:40 PM, followed by the traditional Jolkeli event at 4:00 PM, which added a playful cultural highlight to the day's activities. The day concluded with a photo session, capturing joyful memories for all participants.

The second day, 24 April, focused on celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of Bangladesh's ethnic communities. Starting at 1:30 PM and continuing until 6:00 PM, the day featured vibrant performances, a ramp show, and stalls selling traditional food and handmade crafts.

Students from multiple institutions—including North South University, Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX), Prime University, Bangladesh University, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), and Notre Dame College—joined the festivities, creating a dynamic exchange of cultures and traditions.

ULAB students, including members of ethnic communities, performed in three teams, showcasing their heritage through traditional music and dance. A ramp show featuring participants from ULAB and beyond highlighted ethnic attire and promoted cultural representation.

The traditional food and craft stalls added colour and flavour to the event. A painting stall owner shared, "Initially, I thought the festival would focus only on Bengali culture, but seeing the inclusion of ethnic groups made it even more meaningful."

Rajorshee Chakma, a ULAB student from an ethnic community, reflected on the event's purpose: "This program aims to present Indigenous culture. We must work together, forgetting our differences, to achieve harmony."

Kaleido Fest 2025 successfully fulfilled its mission of celebrating diversity and strengthening connections across communities, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.