Poush Mela: Celebrating Bengal’s Cultural Heritage in Delhi

Dilip Guha, New Delhi: An Annual winter festival of Bengal is popularly known as ‘POUSH MELA’. is indisputably the next big festival after Durga Puja and is also organised by probashi Bengalis staying in various parts of Delhi NCR.

It is a vibrant celebration to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Bengal. This festival takes place in the month of “POUSH” as per the Hindu Calendar, hence called “Poush Mela”. With its roots in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, and nurtured by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, it became a global kaleidoscope of Bengali folk music, rural crafts, cuisine & culture.

Poush Mela usually organized at the end of the Bengali calendar month “Poush” known as poush Sankranti is an important festival in Bengal when the Sun Lord is worshipped. The Sun enters the Capricorn sign, or Makara Rashi, on this auspicious day, marking the end of winter and the start of longer days. Bengalis observe Poush Sankranti on this day, and West Bengal hosts the massive Ganga Sagar Mela to mark the occasion.

This festival is mainly celebrated to express happiness towards the good production of crops and the starting of the new harvesting season by preparing varieties of ethnic Bengali sweets called ‘PITHA’, and performing traditional Bengali folk music and dance especially the Baul songs (the song of the soil).

With its rich history and vibrant traditions, this festival is a cherished and integral part of the Bengali culture. Attendees can expect to be treated to an eclectic mix of music, dance, and art, as well as a wide variety of Bengali cuisine. It is a much-anticipated occasion that brings a great deal of joy to all those who attend.

The Poush Mela is a testament to the enduring spirit and heritage of the eastern region and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of cultural celebration and preservation.

As Time passes, tradition doesn’t. These days with the blessing of science farmers harvest rice many times a year but still when the smell of the winter fog gets mixed with the smell of fresh jaggery one can recall nothing but a Patishapta or Gurer Payesh or Gokul Pithe ( bengali sweets specially prepared on the occasion).

To maintain the tradition and to rejuvenate the Bengalis of east Delhi who suffered due to the lockdown, Bangiyo Samiti, a registered Society, of Laxmi Nagar, Delhi has started ‘POUSH MELA’ for the first time in 2023 and was highly appreciated. This year too, Bangiyo Samiti Laxmi Nagar is organizing Poush Mela on 21st January 2024 (Sunday) at Lala Jagatram Park.

Talking to this reporter, Shri Shri Sanjay Debnath, Secretary of Bangiyo Samiti says the Mela is primarily characterised by the many live Bengali folk music performances, especially the traditional form of Baul music. This extends to singing, dancing and also tribal sports that are appreciated by thousands of Bengalis. It offers an excellent insight into the vast cultural heritage of the Bengal state.

“We at Bangiyo Samiti are also trying to bring similar vives of Bengal to our mela. An ethnic Food Fiesta of authentic Bengali delicacies will feature varieties of conventional Bengali sweets specially PITHA, rice-based products, and other ethnic Bengali foods will be available at our food stalls.

A day-long program packed with cultural performances like music, dance and plays is on the card. Some renowned artists from West Bengal as well as artists of our Bangiyo Samiti’s cultural wing are all set to entertain the audiences.” he informed. He invited all those especially those belonging to the Bengali community in large numbers to participate and enjoy the event by tasting authenticated foods of Bengal and enjoying a program of Music & Dance.