Basanta Utsav in Shantiniketan Today is Holi. Holi the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh. In West Bengal of India and Bangladesh, it is known as Dolyatra (Doljatra) or Bashanta Utsav ("spring festival"). Dolyatra is celebrated throughout India. In the rest of India, it is referred to as 'Holi'. Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Falguna (Phalgun Purnima), which usually falls in the later part of February or March.
On the day of Holi, it is celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and coloured water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before, also known as Holika Dahan (death of Holika) or Chhoti Holi (little Holi). The bonfires are lit in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad had when Demoness Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire. Holika was burnt but Prahlad, a staunch devotee of Vishnu, escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.
In Shantiniketan Holi or Dolyatra is celebrated as Basanta Utsav in the campus of Visva-Bharati University. The students of Visva-Bharati start their preparations from days back. They take to decorate the university campus with beautiful artistic 'alpana'. On the day of Dolyatra, they bring out 'Probhat-pheri' singing songs of Basanta Ritu based on Rabindranath Tagore. Dance-dramas are also presented on the occasion highlighting the importance of the occassions. Almost all students of the University take part in the event. The songs and dramas are filled with colourful clothes and the use of 'aabir' in keeping with the spirit of the occasion. People from all over Bengal throng to Shantiniketan to witness the events. It is from Shantiniketan that the usage of the term 'Basanta utsav' gained popularity. The celebration was initiated by the Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore himself and it continues till today.
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