Visva-Bharati to host six-day heritage Poush Mela from Dec 23

Kolkata: Visva-Bharati University on Thursday announced that the iconic Poush Mela will return this year as a six-day event from December 23 to 28, with strict adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines on pollution control and waste management.

Addressing a press conference in Bolpur, university spokesperson Atig Ghosh said the decision honours the cultural significance of the fair for residents of Santiniketan, Bolpur and the wider Bengali diaspora in India and abroad. The event will be held at the Purba Pally ground, a traditional venue for the heritage fair.

Ghosh said the university will fully comply with NGT directives issued in 2016 and 2018, which include a complete ban on fireworks–green crackers included–strict solid waste disposal norms, fire safety measures and a prohibition on plastic use. “We are confident of receiving everyone’s cooperation in ensuring an eco-friendly Poush Mela,” he added.

Visva-Bharati will submit all precautionary measures to the NGT and proceed with the fair once it receives formal approval.

Founded by Rabindranath Tagore, Visva-Bharati was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on September 17, 2023, increasing global interest in Santiniketan’s cultural traditions, including the Poush Mela.

This year’s fair is being co-hosted by the Santiniketan Trust, as in previous editions. The event could not be held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in 2023 it was organised by the state government along with the Trust due to administrative issues at the central university following the end of former vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty’s tenure.

Visva-Bharati resumed organising the Poush Mela in 2024 after a four-year gap, and the return of the fair in 2025 is expected to draw large crowds and renewed cultural engagement.

(with inputs from agencies)