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 up until the month-end. The key characteristic of this fair include live performances of Bengali folk music, notably baul music.

Background

Devendranath Tagore with twenty followers accepted the Brahmo creed from Ram Chandra Vidyabagish on 21 December 1843 (7 Poush 1250 according to the Bengali calendar). This was the basis of Poush Utsav (the Festival of Poush) at SantiniketanBasak, Tapan Kumar, Rabindranath-Santiniketan-Sriniketan (An Introduction), p. 36, B.B.Publication

A Brahma mandir was established at Santiniketan on 21 December 1891 (7 Poush 1298 according to the Bengali calendar). 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.Ghosh, Swapan Kumar, Santiniketan-Visva Bharati – Birbhumer Srestha Tirtha,Paschim Banga, February 2006, (in Bengali), Birbhum special issue, p. 250, Information and Culture department, Govt. of West Bengal

In earlier days the mela (fair) was held in the...
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