Saraswati Devi is revered as the goddess of knowledge and learning, and students at CUSAT's Kuttanad campus reportedly asked for permission to conduct the puja between 9 and 11 February.

CUSAT's vice-chancellor, however, denied permission saying that the university couldn't allow religious activities in the campus.

"The request of North Indian students to conduct ‘Saraswati Pooja’ has been declined by the Vice-Chancellor, since ours is a secular campus and as such, we cannot permit religious function/activities of any religion inside campus,” the Hindustan Times quoted the joint registrar of CUSAT saying in a circular issued on 1 February.

The HT report also says that the college, affiliated to CUSAT, was shut down indefinitely on 25 January 2018 following a clash between two groups of students after beef cutlets were allegedly served during an event on its campus.