Fair & Festivals
in Santiniketan
Santiniketan is famous for its various festivals, which are organised to mark the seasonal changes.
Bengali New Year:
Every year on 31 Chaitra (13 or 14 April) in the evening through Baitalik the students and residents of Viswa Bharati say goodbye the old year and next day
morning in Upasana Griha (Prayer Hall) a special programme is performed and thereafter everyone pay their respect to Rabindranath at Udayan Griha in Uttaryan.
Rabindra Janmotsav:
Though the birthday of Rabindranath falls on May 9, the anniversary as well as the Bengali New Year Day is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali New Year (Paila Baishakh, 15 April). Of late, cultural programmes are being performed by students and alumni on 25 Baishakh (9 May) in Santiniketan.
Briksharopan (sowing of Saplings):
Planting of Saplings on 22 Shravana (8 August), the death anniversary day of Gurudev Rabindranath, performed by the University every year.
Halakarshan:
Halakarshana (ploughing of fields), the festival of rain is observed on 23 Shravana (9 August) by students and staff of Viswa Bharati at 7.30am every year in Sriniketan. Thereafter a special programme through songs and dances are performed by the students and teachers there.
Poush Utsav (Poush Mela):
Poush Mela is held according to a trust deed made in 1988 at Santiniketan from 7th to 10th Poush (December 23-26) when Visva Bharati also observes its foundation day. Tribal sports, dances and folk songs including songs by Bauls, the-wandering ascetics of Bengal, are a part of the fair and festivities. Stalls are put up by various Government and cultural organisations to mark the foundation day of Santiniketan. Morning Prayer and Inaugural Prayer are held at Upasana Griha and Chhatim Tala every year at 5am & 7am respectively on 23 December. Various cultural programmes are held from 8am to the next day early morning (2am) daily up
to 26th January mid night. Alumni of Viswa Bharati University from all over the world generally assemble during these days to exchange their life experiences with old friends and colleagues.
Magh Mela (Sreeniketan Utsav):
To mark the anniversary of Sreeniketan, a fair is organised every year on 6-8 February at Sriniketan, where people participate in good number. On 7 th , fireworks are displayed during evening. This fair is known as a miniature form of Pous Mela and growers of vegetables take part to exhibit their field produces.
Sarodyoutsav:
14 days before of Mahalaya, a drama and dance drama festival are organised every year where residents of different Bhavans (Hostels) are taking part in it. This was started by Gurudev Rabindranath himself.
Ananda Bazar:
A small colourful fair held at Gourprangan by students of Viswa Bharati on Mahalaya day before the long holidays for Sarodiya Festival. Proceeds thus received are used for charity and welfare of the students.
Rathindra Mela
The students of Palli Sangathana Department, Sriniketan, since last few years, have been organising a small fair on 27 th November commemorating the birth anniversary of Rathindranath Tagore, son of Rabindranath.
Vasanta Utsav:
It is held every year to celebrate Holi. The students dance and sing their ways through Amrakunja, followed by remarkable open-air cultural programmes in the main play ground inside the main campus at 7.30am. Baitalik and cultural programme are held in the evening of the day before Holi and also in the evening of the day of Holi. People from all over the country take part in this colourful and illustrious festival every year. This leads to a mammoth gathering resulting in scarcity of accommodation during these 2 to 3 days.
Nandan Mela (Fair):
Paintings of students and teachers are sold through an exhibition held every year on 1st & 2nd December before the birthday of Nandalal Bose and the sale proceeds are utilized for the benefit of the students of Kala Bhavan. People from all over the country attend this fair to collect the painting of students and teachers at a very affordable price.