National Geographic Traveller

I

ndia’s great Laureate Poet Rabindranath

Tagore was always deeply moved by

Nature. And wherever he travelled his

poetry and writings were beautifully

inspired by the wonder of the natural settings

he was journeying through. It comes as no

surprise then that he felt strongly enough

about the magic of Spring to introduce

the celebrations of that loveliest of Indian

seasons—‘Basant’, heralded by the festival

of Holi, to the beautiful Vishvabharati

University he had set up. The university is

situated at Shantiniketan, in the charming

pastoral expanses of Bhirbhum district, on the

outskirts of Calcutta—the Kolkata of today.

For Tagore Basant was one of the

most joyous festivals of India. It is a time

when the mind and body became one with

Nature —which had emerged young and

rejuvenated once again, from the fold of

winter. Seeing how beautifully it was received

by the students, who threw themselves

wholeheartedly into the spirit of the festival

with traditional prayer and music, dance and

colour— he decided to make it an annual

fixture on the University’s calendar. The

refined celebration of Shantiniketan’s Basanta

Utsav has made it a hallmark of a great

cultural experience—making it one of West

Bengal’s most alluring tourist attractions.

THE CELEBRATIONS

Held on the occasion of Holi in the month of

March on the university grounds, the Basanta

Utsav celebrations are participated in by the

students and teachers and its alumni. The

festival attracts thousands of people from

home and abroad

SHANTINIKETAN

Tagore initially set up an experimental open-

air school with the idea of educating students

in close proximity to nature. He felt that

children should spend time amidst nature,

which it-self is a great educator. While it has

accommodated the needs of today, in essence

and ambience the university continues to

maintain Tagore’s vision of education in the

midst of Nature. The Pous Mela held at the

end of December celebrates the founding of

the university.

POINTS OF INTEREST HERE ARE

Tagore’s Ashram, Uttarayan Complex,

Kala Bhavana (College of Art) Vidya

Bhavana (Institute of Humanities), Rabindra

Bhavana, Sriniketan, Amar Kutir, Patha

Bhavana, Sangeet Bhavana (Institute of

Dance, Drama and Music), Siksha Bhavana

(Institute of Science) and (Institute of

Agricultural Sciences).

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SHANTINIKETAN

CELEBRATES

SPRING

For more log on to http://www.wbtourism.gov.in/www.wbtdc.gov.in