What does 10 years of small acts look like in one evening? Panjimuttayi Carnival 2026
If one evening could capture everything iLAB stands for, it was the Panjimuttayi Carnival. Held on the shoreline where our story began, marking ten years of iLAB's presence on this coast, it brought together everything we've been building all at once: 1000+ community members and 80+ volunteers from community filled the sand with games, music, and stalls; CLAP entrepreneurs sold their handmade products and taught strangers their craft; CEEM students showcased STEM projects and staged a play they'd rehearsed for months.
Key Highlights
Panjimuttayi Carnival: Ten Years, One Family
This was the month's biggest highlight - a carnival marking iLAB's 10th anniversary, and easily the most joyful evening on our calendar this year.
The CEEM Theatre Group staged their play Tastedaa after months of rehearsal, earning widespread applause from the community
Games, gifts, and a whole lot of joy — the carnival's student activities, including an obstacle run and a football shoot-out, were all about making sure every child walked away with a prize and a smile.
Curiosity on display — the STEM Stall featured hands-on models and projects students built during their STEM sessions, turning months of experimentation into proud, tangible showcases.
The Panjimuttayi Expo turned student creativity into a community showcase — stuffed toys, crochet pieces, handmade crafts, and more, each one a proud display of imagination brought to life in front of the people who matter most.
Beyond the carnival, here's what May looked like across DTLP, CLAP, and CEEM.
34 DTLP sessions delivered across 7 streams — 101 learning hours logged
25 CLAP members engaged during the program's revival; 13 mobilized into the Cloth Unit, 3 into the Cloud Kitchen, 6 micro-enterprises supported
55 CEEM engagements, including 16 sports sessions and 4 STEM sessions
1000+ community members and 80+ volunteers came together for the Carnival
Students with the Kozhikode Mayor.
Self-Taught Rubik's Cube Skills and Tournament
Students independently learned Rubik’s Cube-solving techniques and participated in a tournament, strengthening concentration, logical thinking, persistence, and healthy competitive spirit.
10-Day Football Training and Tournament
Students completed 10 days of football training before competing in a tournament, building teamwork, discipline, and fitness.
Learning Through Failure and Discovery
Students set up a fish breeding experiment as part of their science learning. The experiment did not go as planned, but instead of stopping there, students observed what happened, discussed the reasons it failed, and noted down what they would do differently next time. The activity helped them understand that careful observation, patience, and learning from mistakes are an important part of scientific work.
DTLP: Steady Progress Across Every Stream
From Arduino circuits to UI mockups, resumes to real conversations — DTLP learners built skills across every stream this May.
CLAP Entrepreneurs Become Trainers
Four CLAP micro-entrepreneurs stepped up as instructors, passing on their craft — Resin Art, Candle Making, and Cloth Journal Making — to 30 eager participants. Skills once learned for survival, now shared to build others up.
iLAB in the News
