Photo Feature

A Festival of Saffron and Yellow

Basanto Utsav, which literally means the 'celebration of spring', falls on the 1st of Phalgun or February 13 of the English calender. Basanto is perhaps, the most attractive of the seasons, when nature wears a new look with trees sprouting fresh green leaves after the departure of dusty winter. The tradition of celebrating Basanto Utsav or spring festival in Bengal was first started at Shantiniketan by Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore in 1925. The festival announces the coming of spring, the season of love in Bengali culture. Bengalis, mostly youth, traditionally celebrate this appealing occasion by wearing vibrantly coloured attires. Women in shades of yellow or saffron saris with marigold garlands adorning their hair and men in colourful punjabis create an atmosphere of youthfulness and joy that can only happen when spring arrives.

ZAHEDUL I KHAN

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