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West Bengal is a land of exquisite fairs and festivals.
Durga
Puja
The most well-known is the Durga Puja Festival lasting 5 days during
September-October. This celebrates the triumph of Goddess Durga
over the evil Mahishasura and is celebrated with utmost excitement,
pomp and grandeur and piety throughout the state. A visit to Kolkata
during Durgapuja is unforgettable. The pandals, mostly constructed
on the lines of monuments and heritage buildings with innovative
illuminations and Durga idols are works of exquisite art.
Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja
These are also important festivals celebrated throughout the state
in the months of October-November and January-February respectively.
Kalipuja coincides with Diwali.
Ganga Sagar Mela
(24 Parganas South) is the largest fair held annually on the Sagar
Island in the confluence of the Holy Ganga and the Bay of Bengal
at the time of Makar Sankranti in mid-January. Lakhs of Sadhus and
pilgrims congregate here from all over the country to visit the
Kapil Muni Temple and to take a holy dip in the sea. The best and
most comfortable way to access Cangasagar Mela is to avail oneself
of the package tour operated by W3 Tourism Development Corporation
with M.V. Sarbajaya or M.V. Chitrarekha. Special bus/launch services
are operated by Govt. of West Bengal and a large number of private
tour operators on the occasion of the Mela. For overnight stay,
Diamond Harbour Tourist Lodge (popularly known as Sagarika) would
be ideal. (District Birbhum) is also held on the occasion of MakarSankranti
in January on the banks of Ajoy river. This mela draws the largest
number of 'Bauls', the wandering minstrels of Bengal and is a great
attraction to tourists. The of spring with songs, dances and the
spraying of abir (gulal).
Mela can be most comfortably accessed from Shantiniketar Tourist
Lodge of West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation at Bolpur.
Rathyatra
(June-July) atMahesh,closetoKolkata, is a week-long festival. People
throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes attached to the
chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra onthejourney from
the temple and back. In Kolkata Rathayatra is organised by the International
Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) with pomp and grandeur.
Vasanta Utsav
(Shantiniketan, District Birbhum) is a special rendition of Holi
- the festival of colours observed by the students of Tagore'sViswabharati
University. This festival welcomes the season
Paus Mela
(Shantiniketan, District Birbhum) was started by Gurudev Rabindranath
Tagore. This unique festival held in December-January every year
draws people from all over the state and the country. The Paus Mela
is not only a festivity but also an occasion for display /sale of
traditional handicrafts/ handloom goods.
Christmas / Id / Muharram
are held by the minority communities with piety and pomp. Special
mention may be made of Christmas and Easter celebrated by the Christians;
Id / Muharram by the Muslims; and Guru Nanak's Birthday other Sikh
festivals by the Sikhs.
Kolkata Boi Mela
(Book Fair) is a unique and great cultural and literary event. Held
every year from the end of January till early February, this 12-day
long book fair is held over a large chunk of the Maidan near the
crossing of Chowringhee and Park treet in Kolkata. This is one of
the largest book fairs in the world where the leading national and
international publishing concerns participate.
International Film Festival in Kolkata
Held every November between io and 17 is a gala event, showing films
in various theatres, holding seminars, exhibitions and book bazaars,
attracting large crowds of film-lovers. The hub of all activities
is Nandan - a great cultural complex.
India Industrial Trade Fair
It is held every year during December gaining wide renown.
Vishnupur
It is held at the end of December every year at Vishnujpur, the
temple town, in the district of Bankura.
East Himalaya's Tourism Festival
(So far known as Teesta Tea & Tourisim Festival) is a unique
tourism festival organised jointly by West Bengal Tourism, Sikkim
Tourism and Darjiling Tourism in December-January with support and
assistance of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India.
Its objective is to promote the East Himalayas-part of which are
Darjiling, Sikkim and the Dooars of North Bengal -as a composite
tourist destination. Its duration is 9-10 days and it comprises
a plethora of events at various venues in the region. Siliguri is
the gateway to all the festival destinations of the EHTF.
Durga
Puja
