Your Favourite Festival
A common Bengali saying is “thirteen festivals in twelve months”. It was real indeed. Now-a days its number might have been reduced in view of the fast pace of life. Still there are many. Of all these I favour “Holi” most. It is known as such at Santiniketan though it is better known as “Dol“ elsewhere. It is a festival of colour. It is celebrated on the occasion of Dol Purnima in spring.
All the inmates of Santiniketan take part in it. The participants include the Vice Chancellor and many famous artists, litterateures, poets and dignitaries from all over the state. It was introduced by Rabindranath himself. Its glamour knows no parallel.I like it because of its rich cultural and entertainment value.
No liquid colour is used there. Only “Abir” is used. The students, teachers join hands to sing and dance together. Nothing indecent finds there any place. It has a lot of influence on different sections of people. They come from far and wide to take part.
With the coming of visitors the small traders, businessmen, hoteliers, hawkers and rickshaw-pullers make it an occasion for good earning. Many people enjoy it as a good holiday. It is a bit different from Dol-utsab. It is unique and one of its kind with the blessings of Gurudev.