Dol or Holi at Shantiniketan

Dol or holi is the festival of colour. It is a very popular and wonderful festival of Indian culture. All over India it is celebrated. Shantiniketan is an educational and cultural institute. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindranath start this Dol utsav or Basanta utsav (holi festival or spring festival) at Shantiniketan. This year I want and see and take part in this festival.

 No water colour, no balloons with coloured water, no coloured spray used her. People use only abir         (phag or coloured powder). Evening of previous day of Dol festival start with Baitalik (a cultural program of Tagore song). From morning thousands of people come and join in this festival. Shantiniketan without Tagore and song just a moonless full moon night. It is start with Tagore dance and song performed by student of Viswavarati Shantiniketan.

 They come with dancing and singing. Every year this program held at inside of Viswavarati campus. But this year it is held at Purbapalli math or Bhubandanga math (ground). People came with yellow dress (sari for women Payjama and Panjabi for men). They mark by abir on their forehead and cheek. When cultural program complete we start coloured each others. We through abir at sky. Whole sky was change from indigo to multicoloured sky. Unknown people also came gave abir to us and we also greet them with colours. People danced and sang. Total area just became a colorful musical picture.

In evening we see the dance drama of Tagore, named Shapmochan (erase the evil boon). This is a fabulous dance drama performed by student of Viswavarati. This day is being remarkable in my memory for whole life.