Baisakh) is celebrated on either 14 or 15 April on the basis
of the lunar calendar of Bangabda. Visitors to homes are
greeted with sweets, and trade establishments are deco-
rated with auspicious garlands of marigold and aam(man-
go) leaves. Shop-owners and businessmen offer puja at
temples in the morning with new ledgers or Halkhatas.
Some open the first page by drawing the Hindu symbol of
auspiciousness called swastika. Some shopkeepers print
goddess calendars with their address, and distribute them
to their clients. In some regions, festivities begin a few days
before, with music and dance performances.
Kolkata Book Fair
The Kolkata International Book Fair or Kolkata Boi Mela is
the world›s largest non-trade annual book fair as well
as the largest book fair in Asia. Held on the Milan Mela
ground near Science City on E.M.Bypass, this fair has over
600 stalls, selling over Rs.23,000,000 worth of books and
attracting more than 2.5 million visitors annually. It was
started in 1970 by the Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Associ-
ation. It has huge attraction with new poets and artists, an
annual theme country and famous authors visiting the fair
as chief guests. It offers a typical fair-
ground experience with a literary theme
with picknickers, singer-songwriters,
artistes and candyfloss vendors. It starts
on the last We dnesday of
January, and continues for
twelve days, including two
weekends.
Dover Lane
Music
Festival
Kenduli Mela
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti (mid-January) Kenduli
fair is held at Kenduli in Birbhum district. The Mela draws
the largest number of Bauls, the wandering minstrels of
Bengal. The river Ganga accounts for one of the huge
festivals-cum-fair. On the last day of Poush, thousands of
assembled pilgrims take a holy dip at the island beach
on the estuary of the Bhagirathi river, where a makeshift
township is erected for their reception by the state author-
ities. Complete bazaars (markets) crop up for meeting their
needs. Medical and hospital facilities are made available
and Hindu missionary bodies provide thousands of volun-
teers to look after their welfare.
56
| APRIL 2018
The Dover Lane Music Festi-
val is a Hindustani classical
music-oriented event, with
performances from es-
tablished musicians from
several countries as well
as new musicians. It has been held for
the past years in the January conglom-
erate holiday (23 – 26 January) period
and comprises three all-night recitals.
Initially held open air at Dover Lane in
Ballygunge area of South Kolkata, due
to the large crowds, it is now held at the
open-air theatre Nazrul Mancha on the
Southern Avenue (Ballygunge area). It is
held in conjunction with the Dover Lane
Music Conference.