Poush Mela is one of the important Bengali festival celebrated at Shantiniketan in the district of Birbhum of West Bengal. This week long fair celebrated with true Bengali spirit, great splendor and magnificence and its diversity with great joy and excitement among Bengali family located across the world and by people belonging to different cultures and traditions from different parts of country participate in the fair.
According to Bengali calendar, the fair falls on the 7th day of the Poush month. The week long Poush mela is observed in the last week in the month of December. The festival celebrates the commemoration of Rabindranath Tagore and Tagore’s contribution to the literature and higher learning at Shantiniketan. And Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘gathering’ or ‘to meet’ or a Fair.
Shantiniketan is a small sleepy town in the district of Birbhum, West Bengal surrounded with natural beauty. It is about 180 kms north of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal. The history of the place takes us to 1860s, it was known as Bhubandanga. Maharshi Debendranath Tagore found the place beautiful, peaceful scerene and found the destination suitable for studying and higher learning, so he purchased the place and named it “Shantiniketan”, the abode of peace….
Later in 1901, Maharshi’s son Rabindranath Tagore was successful in initiating an open air school that would follow the system of Gurukul system of ancient India. At Shantiniketan, he started his teaching on the seventh day of Poush with five students as the first learners. In 1913, Rabindranath Tagore became the Winner for the Nobel Prize in Literature.. Slowly the Santinniketan system became so popular by 1922, and the Santinniketan emerged as full-fledged university called Viswa Bharathi.
At Shantiniketan, Poush Mela attracts large number of tourists from India also from different countries of the world. Poush mela is famous for the perfect congregation of different cultures and traditions blending at ease. Travels, Visitors and Tourists enjoy the fair and experience the rich heritage of Bengal and this taken to the higher level through the cultural performances by the students of Shantiniketan and live performances of Bengali folk music, Ravindra sangeet bynotably music gurus.
Tourists not only get to witness and participate in the Poush Mela cultural activities but also get to see a large collection of local artistic handicrafts and printed fabrics for all to buy and experience the Bengali spirit in true sense. And get to learn the Strategic development of the university is explored to every one, welcoming everyone to the higher learning.
In 2010, the three days Poush Mela is celebrated on 27-29 December
Toshali Resorts Travel and Trip Planner will help you get started. East India Golden Triangle Tour Exclusive Package for Poush Mela from 27-29 December 2011, for more details visit http://bit.ly/hDdQ6o or simply post a mail to metu@toshali.in
