10 hours ago
Last Updated:March 13, 2025, 17:01 IST
Birbhum's district police confirmed that no time restriction will be imposed on the Basanta Utsab celebration.
Students of Visva Bharati University celebrate Basanta Utsab at Santiniketan in Birbhum. (Source: PTI)
The district police of Birbhum in West Bengal on Thursday confirmed that no time restriction has been imposed by them over the Basanta Utsab and Holi celebration in the district.
The police said that the festival will be celebrated the way it has been always. “This is to clarify that no time restriction has been placed by Birbhum District Police in repect of Basanta Utsab and Holi celebration. It will be celebrated as it has always been. We urge all to avoid misinformation and rely only on authentic sources for accurate updates," said Birbhum District Police.
What Is Basanta Utsab?
In Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s Santiniketan in Birbhum, Holi is marked by an artistic, graceful and cultural festival called “Basanta Utsab".
The festival was introduced by Tagore as a cultural event and is celebrated every year on the beginning day of the Bengali month of Falgun.
The Basanta Utsab was started by Tagore at Visva-Bharti University, Santiniketan for blending education with tradition, art and nature.
In this festival, people wear yellow dresses and sing Rabindra Sangeet, perform traditional dance and apply abir on each other.
During Basanta Utsab, people also indulge in Bengali sweets like Patisapta, Pithe and Mishti Doi.
Restrictions Imposed On Basanta Utsab In West Bengal In 2025
This year, Basanta Utsab celebrations have been banned at Sonajhuri Haat near Santiniketan for the protection of the environment.
The marketplace is close to the Visva Bharati University’s Santiniketan campus, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tourists have also been told not to record videos of the celebrations.
Visva Bharati University will also not open its campus to the public and will have private celebrations because of its UNESCO heritage status.
To protect the World Heritage site status, the abir (coloured powders) has also been banned in the celebrations. So, Basanta Utsab will be celebrated sans its usual vibrant colours.
However, the district police confirmed that there will be no restriction on the timing of the celebrations.
Location :Birbhum, India, India
First Published:March 13, 2025, 17:01 IST
News india No Time Restriction For Holi, Basanta Utsab Celebrations In West Bengal's Birbhum
