Instead, they indulged in a little fun by painting, debating, making sculptures and hunting for treasure at a three-day architecture festival being held at the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). “South Asian countries share similar geographical conditions and similar building materials. Besides spending some fun moments together, we seek to sit together, discuss our problems and find solutions,” says Nisar Khan, a teacher at the Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics, JMI.

The festival was inaugurated on Wednesday evening at a special function that was attended by students of architecture and four hundred eminent architects from Saarc nations.

A joint effort of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation of Architects (SAARH) and the Indian Architecture Institute, the event is being held at JMI for the first time. Besides the student meet at JMI, a simultaneous conference for architects is being held at the India Habitat Centre. The theme of the meet is “Safe built environment in the region”, which means using local resources for making stronger and better buildings.

While today the focus was on extra-curricular activities, the concluding session and the prize distribution ceremony of the forum will be held on Friday. On Saturday, groups of students will visit monuments in Delhi and Agra to study Indian architecture.

An excited Malisha Kodituwakku from the Colombo School of Architecture can’t wait to see the Taj Mahal. “Even among the various architectural similarities, each monument in India or Sri Lanka has its own uniqueness,” she says.

The SAARCH 2008 has provided an opportunity for architecture professionals and students from Saarc countries to come together and initiate a dialogue and indulge in debates to ponder over issues common to the countries of the region.