Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Kolkata School Festivals Combine Sports, Culture, STEM And Sustainability
Schools in and around Kolkata held many events for students in July and August.
Children competed in football, badminton, chess, debates, quizzes and creative activities.
They also sang, danced, acted and explored Bengali and Hindi literature.
Some students learned science and technology by building models, circuits and robots.
Other activities taught children how to reuse materials, plant saplings and protect nature.
One school celebrated the rainy season through songs, dance and traditional objects.
Older students performed a programme about India’s freedom struggle.
These events helped students practise teamwork, confidence, creativity and responsibility.
Hebron School also won a major under-19 football tournament after playing through rain.
Birla High School, Mukundapur, hosted Cascade 2026, a two-day fest featuring debate, sports, arts, technology and entrepreneurship competitions involving 10 schools.
Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar’s Tinker Lab and Robotics Programme gives younger students hands-on STEM experience through building, coding, circuits and design challenges.
Adamas International School’s Barsha Mangal celebration connected monsoon traditions, social-emotional learning and environmental care through performances and sapling planting.
Schools including Julien Day School, Mangalam Vidya Niketan, Delhi Public School Barasat and Birla Bharati held quizzes, debates, cultural programmes, language contests and environmental activities.
Hebron School, New Rangia, won the CBSE Cluster II Under-19 Football Tournament despite heavy rain and difficult playing conditions.
- Who
- Students, teachers and school communities from schools in and around Kolkata, including Birla High School, Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar, Adamas International School, Julien Day School, Mangalam Vidya Niketan, Delhi Public School Barasat, Birla Bharati and Hebron School.
- What
- Schools organized inter-school fests, sports tournaments, STEM programmes, cultural celebrations, quizzes, debates, language contests and environmental activities.
- When
- The reported activities took place in July and August 2026; the football tournament was held from August 15 to 18.
- Where
- School campuses and venues in Kolkata and nearby areas, including Mukundapur, Barasat, Salt Lake, New Rangia and other locations named in the reports.
- Why
- The activities were intended to develop students’ academic, creative, social, technological, environmental and sporting skills through practical participation.
Arguments Supporting
Arguments Questioning
Globalisation and the Global East
Arguments Supporting
In Cascade 2026’s debate, one side argued that globalisation has done more good than harm for the Global East.
Arguments Questioning
The opposing side argued that globalisation has done more harm than good for the Global East; Garden High School won the debate.
The future of education
Arguments Supporting
At Julien Day School’s debate, some speakers highlighted digital learning’s possibilities, including technology and accessibility.
Arguments Questioning
Other speakers stressed the continuing importance of classrooms, mentorship and face-to-face interaction; Ganganagar won the debate.
- Cascade 2026
- Birla High School, Mukundapur’s maiden senior-section inter-school fest, held August 7–8.
- Cascade participation
- Students from 10 schools took part.
- Cascade overall winner
- Birla High School, Mukundapur, won overall and gave the trophy to the first runner-up, Birla High School.
- STEM programme
- Mahadevi Birla Shishu Vihar introduced younger students to construction, electronics, coding, robotics and design challenges.
- Barsha Mangal
- Adamas International School’s pre-primary section celebrated the monsoon season in July through cultural and nature-focused activities.
- Football result
- Hebron School, New Rangia, won the CBSE Cluster II Under-19 Football Tournament and secured a place in the national rounds.
- Football dates
- The tournament was held at Infocus India Public School, Barasat, from August 15–18.