The group was set up in 1974 by two students on the campus with a little help from Allah Rakha Khan. His son, a very young Zakir Hussain with less frizzy hair, performed at its first event. Since then, a fresh batch of students has joined in every year. Over the years, the biggest names in Indian classical music have performed at the fest.

“It is easier to say who didn’t perform — like Vilayat Khan,” said Partho, a group member. “M.S. Subbulakshmi, Bhimsen Joshi, Ravi Shankar, Amjad Ali Khan, Kishori Amonkar, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma — everyone has performed here.”

Now some of their children — the two Ali Khans, Rahul Sharma — have performed.

Unlike many other classical music institutions, the fest hasn’t had a problem with funds because a confectionery group has been its sponsor from the beginning.

“We run on a tight budget, though,” said Arushi Chowdhury Khanna, a second-year student who looks after media relations. The real challenge is to keep the student hooked to classical music. Not all of them know their Raag Malkaus from their Raag Hanswadhwani — but that can wait.