West Bengal is a land of fairs and festivals. In fact, the culture of the state is characterized by the colorful celebrations that adorn it throughout the year. Almost every district of West Bengal plays host to at least one popular fair or festival in the entire year. The celebrations not only tell the tale of their rich cultural heritage, but also improve their prospects as a tourist destinationWe take you on a tour to these fairs & festivals ..


Basonto Utsav : Shantiniketan : Holi by the name of Basant Utsav is celebrated with fervour in the state of West Bengal. The tradition of Vasantotsav, meaning Spring Festival was started by poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan, the University he founded.

What is appreciated is the grace and diginified manner in which Vasant Utsav is celebrated in West Bengal as compared to boisterous Holi witnessed in most parts of India. Boys and girls joyfully welcome Spring, the season of hope not just with colours but with songs, dance, chanting of hymns in the serene ambiance of Shantiniketan. Anybody who got a chance to witness this elegant way of celebrating Holi in Bengal remembers it with fond memory for the rest of his life.

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Paush Mela: The Pous Mela at Shantiniketan is held evey year around December 22 the date on which the Adi Brahmo shrine at the seat of Tagore was dedicated in 1891. The Mela has developed at Santiniketan and Sriniketan., providing a meeting ground for tribal , rural and elite cultural elements.
For the three days of the fair, several acres of the verdant field is thronged by a crowd of over ten thousand people. There are kiosks that last for the three days while many sellers sit wherever they like, spreading their wares on the ground ; at night some areas are flooded with neon lights, while at other corners, you cannot even discern your own big toe. Impromptu programmes by itinerant folk-singers receive umpteen encores while ubiquitous snack shops attract many like bees to a flower.

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Bera Utsav: Celebrated in Mid-September
Celebrated At: Murshidabad, West Bengal
Duration: One day
Organized in mid-September, Bera Utsav witnesses participation by people from the remotest corners of India. It falls on the last Thursday of the Bengali month of Bhadra, which is around mid-September as per the Gregorian calendar. Murshidabad, the city that plays host to the festival, is famous for its enriched heritage and legacy and holds an eminent place in the history of Bengal. The grandeur of this festival, celebrated near the historic palace of Murshidabad, reflects the rich lineage of the city.
The grand celebrations of 'Bera Utsav' are conducted at Lalbagh, on the banks of river Bhagirathi, near the palace of Nawabs. The beautiful celebration is adorned by traditional dance and music. The splendid fireworks on Bhagirathi embankment make the venue a picturesque vista that impresses the visitors no end. The festival is enjoyed by people of different age-groups, religions and cultural backgrounds. It not only tells the tale of the city's age-old splendor, but also marks the unity of its people and their love towards their cultural and traditional inheritance.

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Rash Yatra Festival: On the occasion of Rash Puja the traditional Rash Yatra Festival along with Rash Mela is held in Cooch Behar which is among the biggest festivals of North Bengal. This festival is held in the Madanmohan Temple situated in the heart of the Cooch Behar town. Constructed by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan during 1885 to 1889. The deities include Lord "Madan Mohan" , "Ma Kali" , "Ma Tara" and "Ma Bhavani".

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Tusu: Tusu is a religious festival where the village girls and women sing Tusu songs during the month of Paush, the first month of winter. Tusu songs are sung for whole night of ‘Makar Sankranti', the last day of the month of Paush. Women exchange garlands and fry eight variety of pulses which are given as an offering to the goddess Tusu.

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Bhadu: Bhadu Puja is observed in the Bengali month of Bhadra (mid-August-mid-September) and is a very common festival of the villagers of Purulia. People believe that worshipping Bhadu Devi enables childless women to bear children. With this belief the women sing Bhadu songs and worship.

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Jhapan (District Bankura) : All over the Western part of the state, a festival is held in the honour of the serpent-deity Manasa on the last day of the Bengali month Sravana (mid-August). But the most spectacular is the one held at Vishnupur in the district of Bankura, with its shows of live snakes on open platforms.

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Joydev Kenduli Mela at Kenduli: January 15-16. This mela attracts a lot of Bauls. Held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and attracts a large number of tourists who throng the place only to hear the Bauls, who pour their soulful renditions to packed houses.
-Jaydev Kenduli, about 42 km from Shantiniketan on the banks of the River Ajoy, is believed to be the birthplace of the famous poet Jaydev. An annual fair is organized here on the occasion of Makar Sankranti from January 14th to 16th.
Bauls are a group of mystic minstrels from Bengal who travel through the land, pouring out soulful music and thus propagating an ancient musical tradition. Though Bauls are mainly Vaishnava Hindus or Sufi Muslims, the very tenet of Baul philosophy is universal love that transcends religion.
The Kenduli Mela provides a wonderful opportunity to savour the music of these wandering minstrels who believe in the simplicity of love and life. Thousands of people from all over the world flock to Jaydev Kenduli every year to witness a piece of ancient rural India being brought alive in front of their eyes.
Its three days of non-stop performances and one can taste a slice of the lives and music of the Bauls. The fair also has other attractions like various stalls displaying a wide variety of local handicrafts. Tasting the local cuisine is also a must at these fairs. The entire ambience of the fair, coupled with the festivities and chilly weather in January, the Kenduli Mela provides an experience of a lifetime. .

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