Poush Mela


Poush Mela is an annual fair and festival that takes place in Santiniketan, in Birbhum District in the Indian state of West Bengal, marking the harvest season. Commencing on the 7th day of the month of Poush, the fair officially lasts for three days, although vendors may stay until the month-end as per the university regulations. From 2017 onwards, the fair lasted for six days. The key characteristic of this fair include live performances of Bengali folk music, such as baul, kirtan and Kobigan.

Santiniketan Mela

Santiniketan Mela is a contemporary community-led fair and market held in and around Santiniketan, West Bengal. Organised by local groups and supported by community initiatives, the mela aims to promote regional handicrafts, handloom products, folk art, small enterprises and social outreach activities. The event combines traditional stalls and cultural performances with programmes designed to create economic opportunities for artisans and entrepreneurs.

Overview

Santiniketan Mela is generally held during the winter season and runs for multiple days. The event provides a platform for local artisans, handloom weavers, self-help groups, small entrepreneurs and farmers to display and sell handicrafts, textiles, paintings, books and locally produced food items. Cultural programmes—such as folk music, dance and student performances—are regularly scheduled as part of the mela.

Activities and community work

Alongside trade stalls and cultural programmes, Santiniketan Mela often incorporates social activities including awareness campaigns, youth engagement events, charitable drives and support programmes for senior citizens. The organisers collaborate with local volunteer groups and NGOs to integrate community outreach and training initiatives that benefit participants.

Organisation and participation

The mela is organised by a mix of community committees, local NGOs and event partners. Participation is open to artisans and vendors from Birbhum district and neighbouring areas; organisers typically provide basic stall infrastructure and local promotion to draw visitors. The initiative also links physical exhibition space with online promotion through an 'E-হাট' to help artisans reach wider markets.

Relationship with Poush Mela

Santiniketan Mela is a contemporary, community-driven initiative distinct from the historic Poush Mela. While Poush Mela has deep historical and cultural roots associated with the Poush Utsav tradition, Santiniketan Mela complements the region's festival calendar by offering an additional forum focused on local entrepreneurship, crafts promotion and social development.

Background

with twenty followers accepted the Brahmo creed from Ram Chandra Vidyabagish on 21 December 1843. This was the basis of Poush Utsav at Santiniketan
A Brahma mandir was established at Santiniketan on 21 December 1891. A small fair was organised in 1894 in connection with the establishment anniversary of the Brahma mandir, in the ground opposite the mandir. What started as a small homely Poush Mela now attracts attention of not only the people of Birbhum district but tourists from all around.
From 1894 onwards, the Poush Mela has been organized every year. However it has been put on halt for three times due to the Bengal Famine of 1943, Direct Action Day of 1946 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In earlier days the mela was held in the ground on the north side of Brahma mandir. On that day, a firework display was held in earlier days after evening prayers. As the mela increased in size, it was shifted to the field in Purbapalli.

Inauguration

Poush Utsav is inaugurated on 7 Poush. At dawn, Santiniketan wakes up to the soft music of shehnai. The first to enter the scenario is the Vaitalik group, who go round the ashrama singing songs. It is followed by a prayer-meeting at Chhatimtala. Then the entire congregation moves on to Uttarayan singing songs.

Other days

Poush Mela is characterized by the live performances of Bengali folk music, especially the baul music. It includes folk songs, dances and tribal sports. Each day of this festival is filled with different activities. The last day of this fair is devoted to those who are related to Santiniketan.

The fair

Some 1,500 stalls take part in the fair. The number of tourists pouring in for the three-day fair is around 10,000. Government statistics put the daily inflow of tourists in to Santiniketan at around 3,500 per day; but during major festival such as Pous Utsav, Basanta Utsav, Rabindra Paksha, and Naba Barsha it goes up to an average 40,000 per day or more. Obviously, many of them do stay back in Santiniketan, which has 85 lodges with accommodation for 1,650. Beside of this, room on rent can be hired for some days.
Local printed fabrics and handicrafts are available in the stalls erected during the fair. Besides materials of household interest, toys are also available here. Various food stalls are also found.