SPIC MACAY’s 11th INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
*TO BE HELD AT IIT-KHARAGPUR FROM MAY 25th TO 31st 2026.*
A Gathering of more than 1000 Young people for a Journey into India’s Cultural Heritage
SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) announces the highly anticipated 11th International Convention at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur from May 25 to 31, 2026. It is dedicated to the great Odissi maestro Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra in his birth centenary year.
This year’s gathering is particularly special as it coincides with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of IIT Kharagpur, making it a monumental homecoming since the very seeds of the SPIC MACAY movement were first sown on this historic campus. It is also the second time that IIT-Kgp is hosting SPIC MACAY convention after 2018.
The convention serves as a profound chapter for personal transformation for students and volunteers in attendance. The carefully curated ashram-like environment provides an intense, immersive experience into the finest of Indian classical arts, folk traditions, crafts, and spiritual practices.
A UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Participants, comprising exclusively school and college students selected through a rigorous process, will have free accommodation and meals for the entire week. They will experience early-morning yoga and meditation; interact with legendary artistes; attend classical concerts, folk performances, cinema screenings, craft workshops, and heritage walks. They will also do Shramdaan (community work) to instil humility and service.
Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, spoke about the institute’s pride in hosting this monumental event. “IIT Kharagpur has always championed both technological innovation and our timeless traditions. Hosting SPIC MACAY aligns perfectly with our vision of holistic education. Our campus is ready to resonate with ragas and rhythm, offering a space where students can be deeply rooted in their heritage.”
“SPIC MACAY is not just a cultural movement; it is a spiritual revolution. This convention is a journey inward. We awaken students at 4 AM not to test them, but to allow them to experience something deeper, connecting them with the true soul of India,” remarked Dr. Kiran Seth, Founder of SPIC MACAY.
R. M. Tiwari, National Chairperson of SPIC MACAY, emphasized the scale and enduring spirit of the movement. “This is a Yatra of values, discipline, and devotion to our intangible heritage. In a world obsessed with speed, SPIC MACAY teaches stillness. It is a true youth movement, and we are thrilled to bring this milestone 11th edition to IIT Kharagpur.”
For the whole week, the IIT Kharagpur campus will serve as a living classroom where silence is a teacher, art is the syllabus, and participants engage deeply with the legacy of our nation’s finest Exponents.
Eminent Artists Gracing the Convention
An esteemed gathering of over 250 distinguished artists will be present to guide, perform, and interact with the students. Below is a selection of the highly celebrated artists and gurus participating, showcasing a myriad of classical and folk forms alongside their respective national and civilian honours: *Please find attached the poster*
ABOUT SPIC MACAY
SPIC MACAY is a 49-year-old volunteer-based, apolitical, non-profit organisation working to bring Indian classical music, dance and other aspects of our culture, like folk arts, meditation, yoga, cinema screenings, talks by eminent persons, heritage walks and crafts workshops to university and school students. We are striving to enhance the quality of formal education among adolescents and youth by raising awareness of various aspects of Indian heritage and motivating them to imbibe its values. Volunteers from all walks of life organise about 5000 programmes every year in 100 cities of India and abroad. During the pandemic, SPIC MACAY organised 1000 programmes online.
