Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav 2025: A Holi Celebration You Must Experience

Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav 2025: Holi (Dol Purnima) is a popular Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon day of Phalguna month. This day is celebrated to commemorate the love between Lord Krishna and Radharani. It is said that Krishna used to play colors with Gopi’s, which later became the festival of Holi. But generally nowadays this festival is celebrated by all irrespective of caste and religion.

If you also want to make these two days of Holi memorable with your partner, but don’t know where to go on this Holi vacation? Then you can definitely choose Shantiniketan. See in detail how the Holi festival is celebrated with different colors in Shantiniketan.

Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav, Overview:

Shantiniketan’s Holi or Dol Purnima is known as the ‘Basanta Utsav’. A special tradition of Visva Bharati University is this ‘Basanta Utsav’. Rabindranath started this festival. Spring is welcomed through various cultural events.

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Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav: Date and Venue

Date: Friday, 14 March 2025
Venue: Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan, West Bengal
Main Organizer: Visva-Bharati University and local cultural organizations

Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav Event Schedule:

• At 6:00AM: The festival begins
• At 7:00AM: Visva Bharati students gathered at Amrakunj.
• At 7:30AM: Spring is welcomed through Rabindra Sangeet, dance and recitation.
• At 8:30AM: The ‘Abeer Khel’ begins, where everyone greets each other by playing colors.
• At 10:00AM: Cultural programs and various exhibitions are organized.

How to reach Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav:

You can easily reach Shantiniketan by train bus or private car.

Train:

Train is the shortest way to reach Shantiniketan. By train from Howrah to Bolpur-Shantiniketan (Howrah-Jamalpur Express, Viswabharati Fast Passenger, Ganadevta Express, Rampurhat Express etc.) alight at Bolpur Shantiniketan station. Then Shantiniketan can be easily reached from Bolpur station by Toto or Auto.

Bus:

If you want to visit Shantiniketan in less cost then you have to reach Shantiniketan by bus. There are direct buses from Esplanade Bus Stand (Dharmatala) in Kolkata to Bolpur, which will reach you at Bolpur Bus Stand in 4 to 5 hours. You can easily reach Shanti Niketan by Toto or Auto from Bolpur Bus Stand.  

You can also go directly to Shantiniketan from Kolkata by private vehicle.

Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav Top attraction:

1. Students of Visva Bharati University participated in the procession wearing yellow clothes.
2. They entered the ashram premises and the house of worship of Visva Bharati singing Rabindra Sangeet. Which creates an extraordinarily beautiful environment.
3. The students started the festival by singing “Fagun Hawaay Hawaay” or “Aji Dol Dol Dol” Rabindra Sangeet.
4. Dancers from Shantiniketan performed the “Spring Festival” dance.
5. Baul and folk music performances are also one of the attractions of the ‘BasantaUtsav’.
6. Traditionally the peaceful ‘Abir Khela’ is played.
7. Students, teachers and tourists greet each other by applying a light abir on each other’s cheeks.
8. The atmosphere of the Ashram and the touch of Rabindranath can be found in this place.
9. Art fairs and handicraft exhibitions are held in Shantiniketan during the spring festival.
10. Sonajhuri Hat is one of the tourist destinations during the spring festival. Where handicrafts, clothes, jewellery and folk songs made by local artists of Shantiniketan are available.
11. Come to Shantiniketan during the spring festival and you will get a chance to eat some special Bengali traditional food. Like – Patisapta, Pitha, Kachagolla, Sitabhog, Mochar Ghant, Shukto, Prawn Malaikari, also Beler Shorbot – which is the main drink of Dol Utsav.

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Special Instructions for Shantiniketan Basanta Utsav:

1. As directed by the Visva Bharati authorities, entry of outside visitors has been restricted during the spring festival. Therefore, those who wish to participate must seek permission in advance.
2. Wearing yellow or ocher colored clothing is part of the tradition.

Holi is not only a religious festival but also a symbol of love, joy, harmony and the arrival of spring. So you can definitely participate in this grand reunion festival.

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