Paush Mela is coming back after long five years. The Poushmela premises will once again become lively with the gathering of bowl music, handicrafts and artists. Poush Mela was organized in the field of Purbapalli at the initiative of Rabindranath Tagore. Although it was his father Maharshi Debendranath Tagore’s wish to organize this fair. This fair starts every year on 7 Paush. But why does the traditional Paushmela of Santiniketan start on this special day? Behind it is a story of almost two centuries ago.
Let’s walk back in time to 21 December 1843. That day was 7 Paush of Bengali year 1250 Bangabd. Maharshi Devendranath Tagore along with his forty companions took initiation by vowing to Ramachandra Vidyabagish Mahashay in the name of Brahma. This day is therefore considered as the day of initiation of Brahminism. In the beginning, the name of the religion was not Brahmadharma. Devendranath’s and his companions’ religion was known as ‘Vedanta Protipadit Dharma’. From the beginning this religion has created interest among many. The Maharishi also felt an urge to further develop interest in the new religion. So Devendranath planned a festival two years after his initiation. In 1845 the festival was celebrated on the day of initiation i.e. 7 Paush. However, the festival was not organized in Santiniketan. Paush festival is organized in Goriti’s garden house across from Devendranath’s Palta.
Poush Utsav and fair are not the same thing. Debendranath Tagore had a desire to organize a fair for a long time. He mentions that in his trust deed. In the trust deed dated March 8, 1888, he wrote, ‘Except for the worship of the Formless One Brahman, no worship or homa yajna shall be performed in that Shantiniketan to any special deity or animal, bird, human or image or symbol of any particular sect. Try and organize a fair every year. All religions can be judged and exchanged in this fair. There will be no idolatrous worship in this fair festival and there can be no ugly entertainment, all kinds of goods can be bought and sold in this fair except for alcohol and meat. If in time any income is generated by this fair, the trustees will spend the money for the improvement of the fair or ashram.’
By honoring Maharishi’s wishes, the Shantiniketan Trust organized the Paush Mela in 1894. The date remains unchanged. 7 Paush means the day Maharishi and his companions were initiated into Brahmanism. Debendranath Tagore never attended the Paush Mela, even though he organized Paush Utsav regularly. He came to Santiniketan for the last time in 1883.
Incidentally, Paush Utsav and Mela did not start at the same time in Santiniketan. The year of the beginning of Santiniketan i.e. 1891 is considered as the first year of Paush Utsav in Santiniketan. Accordingly, the 128th Paush festival was celebrated in 2019. On the other hand, Paush Mela started in 1894. As a result, the year 2019 marks the 125th anniversary of the fair. 2024 will be the 129th year of Paush festival after five years. On the other hand, this year marks the 126th anniversary of Paush Mela.
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References – Shantiniketan Paush-Utsav and Fair: An Outline of Evolution – Manvendra Mukhopadhyay
