“The land of the red soil” (Lalbhumi) is also “the land of the brave”. Several brave kings have dominated Birbhum since the beginning. Remnants of civilizations add profound historical importance to place. The district headquarters is Suri. Bolpur-Shantiniketan, Nanor, Joydev-Kenduli, Bakreswar and Nalhati are the principal sites of attraction here. The Visva Bharati University at Shantiniketan, established by Rabindranath Tagore, is one of the internationally renowned places. Many festivals are celebrated in this culturally rich district – Poush Mela, Basanta Utsav, Kenduli Mela etc. Trapaith and Bakreswar are other famous places of attractions.

Shantiniketan

Shantiniketan is a tourist attraction mainly because Rabindranath lived here and penned many of his literary classics (namely Rabindrasangeet, poems, novels etc.) here at his home where is a place of historical importance. The Shantiniketan campus is adorned by splendid sculptures, frescoes, murals, and paintings of Rabindranath, Nandalal Bose, Ramkinkar, Binodbehari Mukhopadhyay and others. Birbhum District, where Shantiniketan is located, is also famous for its fairs and festivals like Poush Mela (December), Joydev Mela (January), Basanta Utsav (Holi) in March and the famous mystic Baul Singers. Rabindra Janmotsav is celebrated in mid-April to mark the Bengali New Year and as well Tagore’s Anniversary. Briksharopan, the festival of planting saplings, and Halakarshan, the festival of plowing the fields, are celebrated on 22nd and 23rd day of Sravana (August). Varshamangal, the festival of rains, is celebrated during August/September. Poush Mela is an annual fair and festival that takes place in Shantiniketan. Commencing on the 7th day of the month of Poush (Dec-Jan), the fair officially lasts for three days, although vendors may stay up until the month-end. Poush Mela is characterised by its live performances of Bengali folk music, specially traditional bauls, wandering minstrels singing Bengali songs. Tribal dances (i.e. santali) are also the part of the fair.

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