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The Pous Mela this year
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Santiniketan, Dec. 13: Visva-Bharati has decided to double the number of Pous Mela stalls for rural artisans to restore the “original” idea behind the fair — to promote handicrafts.
Sources said the decision to set up around 300 handicraft stalls on the Purba Palli grounds and Bhubandanga Math of Santiniketan was taken after old-timers suggested that craftsmen should get back their “right place” in the mela, which had over the past few years seen an in increase in automobile and electronic goods stalls.
The stalls displaying electronic appliances and cars will be shifted to the eastern fringes of the two grounds.
“Rural craftsmen complained that they were not getting enough stalls at prominent places and that made it difficult for them to sell their products to tourists. A large section of the grounds was being occupied by stalls displaying cars, home appliances and computers. The decision (to double the number of handicraft stalls) was taken keeping in mind the original theme of promoting rural art,” said Sougata Samanta, the secretary of the Pous Mela committee.
Pous Mela was started on the 7th day of the Bengali month of Pous in 1894 by Rabindranath Tagore’s father Maharshi Debendranath. It was a one-day fair then. In early 20th century, the bard extended the fair to three days. This year, Pous Mela will begin on December 23.
Officials said the varsity was planning to set up over 2,000 stalls this year as against 1,600 earlier.
“We will try to allot stalls to all artisans who will apply,” a fair committee member said.
Traders who intended to set up stalls for electronic appliances and cars this year said they would think twice if the varsity allotted them space in the corners of the venues.
“If we are pushed back to a corner of the fair grounds, what display will our cars get? If that is the case this year, we will have to think twice before applying for a stall,” an automobile dealer in Asansol said.
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