SHANTINIKETAN - A HISTORICAL ,TEACHING AND FESTIVE PLACE

Shantiniketan is a famous town near Birbhum district of West Bengal, approximately 180 kilometers north of Kolkata. Santiniketan was previously called Bhubandanga (named after Bhuban Dakat), and owned by the Tagore family. Rabindranath's father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, found it very peaceful and renamed it Santiniketan, which means abode of peace .It has become a tourist spot because of it’s association with Rabindronath Tagore, one of Bengal’s greatest poet. Shantiniketan was founded by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1921.Santiniketan is also a tourist attraction because Rabindranath wrote many of his literary classics here, and his house is a place of historical importance. His aim was to establish an institution that would follow the traditional Indian gurukul 
system of instruction. In this system guru would teach his/her disciples, while sitting on the grass under shady trees. Rabindranath Tagore started Patha Bhavan the school of his ideals, whose central premise was that learning in a natural environment would be more enjoyable and fruitful. After he received the Noble Prize (1913), the school was expanded into a university. He established Visva Bharati University that followed the same idea of open air lessons. The Vishwa Bharati University is the meeting place for the east & western culture. Students from various part of the world come to learn Indian music & dance & also about the Indian culture. Shantiniketan is one of the most famous places in the world. Visva Bharati is an

international institution famous for its conventional way teaching. The traditions such as open air lessons, gurukul system of instruction still persist in the curricula of various programs. It is still a hallowed ground for admirers of Tagore.

Many world famous teachers have become associated with it, and Indira Gandhi was one of its more illustrious students. Kala Bhavana, the art college of Santiniketan, is still considered one of the best art colleges in the world. Other institutions here include Vidya Bhavana; the Institute of Humanities, Shiksha Bhavana; the Institute of Science, Sangit Bhavana; Institute of Dance, Drama and Music, Vinaya Bhavana; Institute of Education, Rabindra Bhavana, Institute of Tagore Studies and Research, Palli-Samgathana Vibhaga; Institute of Rural Reconstruction, and Palli Shiksha Bhavana; Institute of Agricultural Sciences. There are also other centres, affiliated to major institutions such as Nippon Bhavana, the Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration, Rural Extension Centre, Silpa Sadana; Centre for Rural Craft, Technology and Design, Palli-Charcha Kendra; Centre for Social Studies and Rural Development, Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for Mathematics Education, Centre for Environmental Studies, Computer Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration. As well as Patha-Bhavana, there are two schools for kindergarten level education; Mrinalini Ananda Pathsala, Santosh Pathsala; a school for primary and secondary education known as Shiksha Satra, and a school of higher secondary education known as Uttar-Shiksha Sadana.

The weather in Santiniketan is usually a pleasant one although you will come across the normal weather changes during summer, winter and Monsoon. Nonetheless Spring has its own charm in Santiniketan not only because of its natural beauty blooming to its fullest amidst the lush greenery but also due to the famous Vasanta Utsav held to mark the festival of Holi with the onset of Spring.

The weather in Santiniketan is usually a pleasant one although you will come across the normal weather changes during summer, winter and Monsoon. Nonetheless Spring has its own charm in Santiniketan not only because of its natural beauty blooming to its fullest amidst the lush greenery but also due to the famous Vasanta Utsav held to mark the festival of Holi with the onset of Spring.The Vichitra Museum, inside the university has memorabilia from the poet’s life including his paintings, developed from the sketches he made in the margins of the paper while writing. Excellent performances of Rabindra sangeet can be heard in the campus every evening.

About 30 kms from Shantiniketan is a small village Kenduli, the birth place of great Sanskrit poet Jaydev. Jaydev composed the famous Geeta Govinda. There are several temples here. Kenduli is famous for its folk song festival held during Makar Sankranti (Mid January). This festival is the largest of its kind in the state. Bauls, a sect of wandering minstrels, gather here during this festival.

Poush mela is a big festival in Shantiniketan in West Bengal. It happens in end of December. This festival is full of folk songs, baul songs, theatres and group dance. During this time the air in Shantiniketan is filled with colors, soft music. People from all over India and outside India come here to rediscover India On the first day the festival begins with community prayer orBrahmopasana written by Maharshi and Rabindranath. This followed by Tagore songs. Next comes the famous folk songs of West Bengal along with boul songs.On the second day the university arrange a award ceremony for students who have completed graduation. At the fair, the centre stage never quietens – more bauls and kirtan singers perform

; jatras and folk theatres are held.On the second evening, there is a celebration of fireworks, thoroughly enjoyed by everyoneBy the third day the number of tourist reach to near about ten thousand ; at night some areas are flooded with neon lights, while at other corners, you cannot even discern your own big toe. Irrespective of their urban or rural roots, children happily pick up brightly coloured wooden toys while their mothers select palm-leaf trinketsUsually, the three days include Christmas Day and everyone joins in the Krishtotsav, observed by the ashramites. Besides, there are cultural events and memorial lecture. Although real estate is booming, still the place is comfortably swathed in green and with not much auto mobile traffic (walking or  cycling is the common mode of commuting), Shantiniketan offers a welcome weekend getaway, any time throughout the year and specially during its festive days.

As the last festival in Bengali calendar, Basanta Utsav (spring festival), which is held on the day of Dol yatra, has great importance in Bengali life and culture. Every year, the festival is celebrated with great fanfare in Shantiniketan that sees the arrival of thousands of enthusiasts from all corners of the world.

Rabindranath Tagore, the famous saint-poet and the Indian Noble laureate, revived the spirit of Holi in India as the Spring festival or

Vasant Utsav at Shanti Niketan. The students of Bishwabharati University here dress in yellow-colored dresses on this day and celebrate Holi by performing special cultural programmes such as group choreography, songs and dances. They welcome the Spring by staging various aspects of this joyous festival in an artistic manner. Later, all the students and teachers play Holi with 'abeer' and 'gulal', the colored powders and smear each other's faces with red, yellows and greens.

In Shantiniketan, Basant Utsav is celebrated with immense fervor and zeal. Boys and girls, dressed in yellow (basanti) color, welcome spring - the season of hope, in a very elegant manner. They greet spring not only with colors, but also with songs, music and interesting rhymes. The cultural fest organized here, on this day, offers some spectacular performances of arts and crafts, by the students of Vishwabharti University. They sing beautiful songs and also dance to the tune of pleasurable music in groups. Later in the day, on Vasanta Utsav, the students as well as the teachers apply colored powders on each other. This powder is popularly called abeer (abhor). Following the coloring tradition, the entire premises of the university gets filled with the colors of abeer. A warm welcome is given to all the visitors and each of them is welcomed to join in this merry making festival. The air is filled not only with a number of vivacious colors, but also with the feeling of joy and hope, making the entire atmosphere delightful.

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