Annual Poush Mela in Santiniketan - traders want extension

Traders who will put up stalls at the annual Poush Mela in Santiniketan have requested that the fair be extended by a week. That way they can recover some of their investments at a time when there is a cash crunch because of demonetization.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT)has ruled that the fair cannot be extended beyond the stipulated three days. The Poush Mela starts on December 7 and should end within three days but, it usually continues unofficially till end-December.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 4 December 2016.

The fair is organist jointly by Visva-Bharati and the Santiniketan Trust. History has it that Rabindranath Tagore's father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, had bequeathed his properties to the Santiniketan Trust. As per documents, the Poush Mela is supposed to be held for three days.
Incidentally the fair was started in 1894 by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore with the idea of promoting local handicrafts. Tourists from all over the country and also from across the world visit Poush Mela to pick up the handicrafts created by local artisans.


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Visva-Bharati slashes its budget for this year's annual art-and-craft fair

Demonetisation has left its mark on this year's a cut in the budget of its annual art-and-craft fair in Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan to a fifth of last year's figure.
Lat year, the budget was Rs 2.5 lakh last year and, the university has indicated that it will not be able to spend more than Rs 50,000 - this is in view of the cash withdrawal limit set by the Centre which is Rs 24,000 per week. The university has also decided to reduce the prices of the artefacts due to the cash crunch.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 30 November 2016.

The fair usually displays artefacts like paintings, sculptures, jewellery, diaries, calendars and stationery that are made by teachers and students of Kala Bhavana and is held in the art department compound. Known as the Nandan Mela, it started 43 years ago to commemorate the birthday of painter Nandalal Bose. It is held on December 1 and 2 every year.
Nearly 12,000 to 15,000 people visit the fair every day and the university has given the students an advance of Rs 40,000 with a request that thy chip in with some money, if possible.


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Tourism in Hazarduari palace and Motijheel Destination Park drops due to demonetisation

Tourism in Bengal has taken a beating in favorite tourist spots like the Hazarduari palace and Motijheel Destination Park in Murshidabad due to demonetization.
The Archaeological Survey of India maintains Hazarduari and it has revealed that the number of tourists this November was 40 per cent less than that in October. Similarly in Motijheel Destination Park. This has an artificial spring and clay models apart from a light-and-sound show on the history of Murshidabad. But, footfalls here has halved since November 9 - that was the day after the demonetization drive was announced.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 28 November 2016.

The situation at other tourist hotspots in Santiniketan in Birbhum is also dismal. Hootel bookings in both Murshidabad and Santiniketan had come down drastically as a result of lack of tourists following the cash crunch precipitated by the demonetization.
At Hazarduari (constructed in 1829), old Rs 500 notes are being accepted at the ticket counter, but the number of visitors has not improved. As an official has indicated - there has been a 40 per cent drop in the number of visitors this November in comparison with the figure in October. The ticket price per person at Hazarduari is Rs 15.


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National Green Tribunal directs Visva-Bharati to stop the Poush Mela or shift its venue

The poush mela or the fair in the Bengali month of had been started in 1894 by Rabindranath Tagore's father Maharshi Devendranath - the objective was to promote local artisans. It is held for three days in December on the "mela ground" located on the campus of Vishva-Bharati University.
However, it does not wind up within three days but an extended version of the fair called Bhanga Mela continues for another 10-12 days. This is a gross violation of environmental norms during the fair.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 10 August 2016.

Hence, the National Green Tribunal has directed Visva-Bharati to either stop the Pous Mela or shift its venue from its current venue. The mela had been started with a noble purpose but, gradually, the purpose has disappeared and it has now been commercialised and taken over by unscrupulous elements.
The tribunal has directed Visva-Bharati to file an affidavit stating its decision in this regard and the state government should also inform how it planned to help the varsity. The tribunal's ruling has come based on a petition filed by green activist Subhas Dutta in February who had alleged there was gross violation of environmental norms during the fair.


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