This Diwali Mela blends festive cheer with entrepreneurial learning

The campus of Apeejay School of Management (ASM), Dwarka, came alive with festive cheer, creativity and entrepreneurial enthusiasm as the Cultural Club organised its annual Diwali Mela for first- and second-year PGDM students. Combining the spirit of Diwali with practical management learning, the event provided students an opportunity to showcase their creativity while applying business concepts in a real-world setting.

The campus was adorned with handcrafted rangolis, glowing diyas and marigold garlands, creating a vibrant festive ambience. The highlight of the Mela was a series of student-managed stalls that transformed the celebration into a lively marketplace. From engaging games and food counters serving festive street food and homemade delicacies to handcrafted crochet products, eco-friendly painted diyas, traditional torans and mehendi art booths, the stalls reflected the students’ diverse talents and entrepreneurial ideas.

Beyond the festive celebrations, the Mela offered valuable hands-on experience in essential business functions. Students took responsibility for managing their stalls, engaging with customers, planning inventory and determining suitable pricing strategies. The exercise enabled them to understand the practical challenges of running a business, including customer preferences, product presentation and effective marketing.

For the PGDM students, the event served as an opportunity to translate classroom concepts into practical learning. By managing different aspects of their stalls, they experienced how creativity, strategic planning and customer interaction contribute to business success. The initiative also encouraged teamwork, coordination and healthy competition among students from the two cohorts.

Sharing her perspective on the entrepreneurial spirit of the event, Sneha Negi, a second-year PGDM student, said, “Entrepreneurship is not about starting a business; it is about cultivating a mindset that sees opportunity in every challenge and light in every corner.”

Highlighting the significance of Diwali and collaboration in business, Sunil, a first-year PGDM student, remarked, “Diwali reminds us that light spreads when shared; similarly, business prospers when creativity and collaboration walk hand in hand.”

These reflections captured the central idea behind the Mela: that meaningful management education extends beyond textbooks and flourishes through practical experiences. The student-led stalls demonstrated how ideas can be transformed into marketable offerings through planning, teamwork and an understanding of customer needs.

The collaborative initiative also strengthened bonds between the first- and second-year PGDM students, encouraging them to exchange ideas, share responsibilities and learn from one another. The blend of festive traditions and entrepreneurial activities created an engaging environment in which students could develop their leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.

The Diwali Mela reaffirmed Apeejay School of Management’s commitment to experiential learning, demonstrating how cultural celebrations can become platforms for professional development. As students combined festive enthusiasm with business acumen, the event underscored the value of learning by doing and encouraged budding managers to approach future challenges with creativity, confidence and a collaborative mindset.