Thapar University, formerly known as Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology was founded in 1956 by Karam Chand Thapar. The university is situated in Patiala, Punjab. Thapar University offers courses at the bachelors, masters and Ph.D., levels in several disciplines of engineering and technology. Over 10,000 students have graduated from Thapar University. The annual festival of the university is Aranya. The institute also has a literary-cultural festival "Saturnalia" every March and other events like elixir, chakrvyuh, mudra etc. held during academic year. The institute was established in 1956 and over 10,000 engineers have graduated since its establishment. The institute was granted the status of a Deemed University in 1985 by the University Grants Commission. Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET) is a major institute in the 250-acre (1.0 km) Thapar Technology Campus (TTC) in the historic city of Patiala. Other than Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, the Thapar Technology campus also has Thapar Polytechnic, Thapar Centre for Industrial Research and Development The institute offers undergraduate programmes leading to Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.