Basanta Utsab (Bengali: বসন্ত উৎসব) is a festival celebrated by Bengalis. The festival is celebrated every year on Falguni Purnima.[1] Celebrations of the festival are observed in West Bengal and Bengali-dominated areas of other Indian states; Shantiniketan, a neighbourhood of Bolpur town in West Bengal, sees the biggest celebration of the festival. The festival in Bangladesh also celebrated as Pohela Falgun on the first day of Spring of the Bengali month Falgun.[2]
This festival started in the third decade of the 20th century in Santiniketan of Bolpur in West Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore made the Basanta Utsab sacred and well-cultured. This festival showcases the elegant form of Holi and Bengal's own Dol Utsab.
Shamindranath Tagore, son of Rabindranath Tagore, started Ritu-Utsab in 1907, but not held on Dol Purnima. Then at different times on different dates, the Ashram of Santiniketan celebrated Basanta. It was customary to circumambulate the ashram to sing spring songs.[1]
In 1923, Basanta Utsab was started in Santiniketan; it was organized in Ashram-Sammilani session on Falguni Purnima. The festival has been organized regularly since 1923.[1]
