August 2025 – What Happened – শান্তিনিকেতন সংবাদ
Barsamangal Festival was celebrated on August 30, 2025 at Sangit Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. This monsoon celebration honored the arrival of the rainy season through traditional music, dance, and poetry performances inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s love for nature.
4th International Rabindra Mahotsav took place on August 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM at EZCC, Srijani Shilpagram, Bolpur.
Rabindranath Tagore’s 84th Death Anniversary was commemorated on August 8-9, 2025, with the traditional Baishye Srabon programme at Srijani Shilpagram, organized by the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre under the Ministry of Culture.
Academic Activities at Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay, Bolpur:
Sanskrit Day Celebration: A workshop on Srimad Bhagavatgita and Sanskrit Day was held on August 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM in the auditorium, organized by the Department of Sanskrit & Indology.
TMCP Foundation Day: Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay in Bolpur postponed examinations originally scheduled for August 28, 2025 (TMCP foundation day) to August 30, 2025, citing transportation issues and student requests.
PG Admission Process: The university completed its PG admission merit list publication on August 21, 2025, with rectification of application forms allowed until August 25, 2025. The final merit list for various MA and M.Sc programs was finalized during this period.
Political Events:
Language Movement Launch: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the “Bhasha Andolan” (Language Movement) from Bolpur on July 27, 2025. She led a nearly 4-kilometer protest march from Tourist Lodge Crossing to Jambani Bus Stand, carrying portraits of Rabindranath Tagore and Bengali alphabets while marching to “Ami Banglay Gaan Gai”.
September 2025 – Current Month Focus
Academic Activities at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan:
Certificate and Diploma Course Admissions: Applications opened on September 11, 2025 through the official portal visvabharatiadmission.samarth.edu.in:
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Application Period: September 11, 2025 (12:01 AM) to September 18, 2025 (11:55 PM)
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Correction Window: September 20-21, 2025
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Application Fees:
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UR/OBC/EWS candidates: ₹1,000 (first application), ₹400 (additional applications)
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SC/ST/PWD candidates: ₹300 (first application), ₹150 (additional applications)
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Contact: admissionhelpdesk@visva-bharati.ac.in, +91 89677 33446/33447
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Courses: Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, and Skill Development in languages, performing arts, fine arts, and craft design
Academic Calendar: Semester-I Tagore Studies classes under NEP and CBCS systems began on September 23, 2025.
Academic Activities at Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay, Bolpur:
PG Admissions 2025: The final phase of postgraduate admissions concluded in September 2025, with additional merit lists published in October for remaining seats. The university offers MA programs in Bengali, English, and History, plus M.Sc in Mathematics with total intake of 200 students.
Administrative Updates:
Birbhum District Administration: Multiple development projects and tenders were issued in September 2025, including traffic restrictions over Tilpara Barrage Bridge (effective September 16, 2025). The district administration published various notices for contractual engagement and merit lists on September 19, 2025.
Cultural Events:
Sewa Parv 2025: Celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 2025, under the theme “Viksit Bharat Ke Rang, Kala Ke Sang” with painting workshops and cultural activities at both Santiniketan and Bolpur.
Durga Puja Preparations: Mahalaya on September 21 marked the beginning of Durga Puja preparations. Ganesh Puja celebrations were already underway in various neighborhoods of Bolpur by late August.
Academic Conferences: The Second AAAS National Conference took place on September 18-19, 2025, at Visva-Bharati’s Department of Plant Pathology.
October 2025 – What to Expect
Major Festivals:
Durga Puja 2025: The main celebration runs from September 26 to October 4, 2025 according to Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay’s academic calendar:
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September 26: Maha Chaturthi (Friday)
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September 28: Maha Sashthi (Sunday)
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September 30: Maha Ashtami (Tuesday)
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October 1: Maha Navami (Wednesday)
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October 2: Vijaya Dashami (Thursday) – also Gandhi Jayanti
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October 3-4: Additional Durga Puja holidays (Friday-Saturday)
Both Santiniketan and Bolpur will host traditional village-style Durga Puja celebrations with artistic pandals, evening aartis, sindur khela, and immersion ceremonies.
Tagore International Film Festival: Scheduled for October 4-5, 2025, featuring short films, narrative features, and documentaries.
Tourism and Campus Access:
Visva-Bharati Campus Reopening: After nearly five years, the UNESCO heritage campus will reopen for tourists in early October 2025. Heritage walks will be conducted on Sundays with advance booking, covering Chatimtala, Upasana Griha, Rabindra Bhavana Museum, Patha Bhavana, and various academic Bhavanas.
Academic Resumption: Following the extended Durga Puja vacation (September 26 to October 4), normal academic activities will resume by October 7, 2025 at both Visva-Bharati and Biswa Bangla Biswabidyalay.
Upcoming Cultural Events:
Nandan Mela Preparation: Initial planning for the annual art fair on December 1-2, 2025 will begin in October. This event at Kala Bhavana celebrates Nandalal Bose’s birth anniversary with art exhibitions and cultural performances.
Poush Mela Preparation: Advance planning for the major cultural fair December 23-25, 2025 will commence, featuring Bengal’s folk traditions, handicrafts, Baul music, and authentic local cuisine.
Administrative Activities:
Municipal Development: Bolpur Municipality will continue various infrastructure projects, including waste management initiatives and urban development schemes as part of ongoing district administration programs.
Weather and Tourism: October marks the beginning of the ideal tourist season with pleasant post-monsoon weather, making it perfect for exploring both Santiniketan’s academic heritage and Bolpur’s cultural attractions.
The coming month promises vibrant festivities combining Durga Puja celebrations across both towns, the reopening of heritage tourism at Santiniketan, and the resumption of full academic activities at both major educational institutions, making it an excellent time to experience the unique cultural blend of this historic region.