Birbhum, 23 December (H.S.): The traditional Poush Mela commenced grandly on Tuesday at the Chhatimtala complex in the World Heritage site of Santiniketan, with Rabindra Sangeet, Brahma Upasana (prayer), and Vedic chants. Visva-Bharati Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prabir Kumar Ghosh, Acting Registrar Amit Hazra, and Professor Suman Bhattacharya participated in the ceremony. Among the invited guests were Birbhum District Magistrate Dhaval Jain and Zilla Parishad Chairperson Kajal Sheikh. A large number of Visva-Bharati teachers, students, and ashram residents also attended the event. The fair will continue until December 28th.
A large crowd of tourists is being seen in Bolpur and Santiniketan for the Poush Mela. According to Visva-Bharati sources, plots for approximately 1700 stalls have already been booked. Following court directives, special emphasis has been placed on pollution control and making the fair plastic-free. Visva-Bharati Acting Registrar Amit Hazra said that there has been a good response to stall bookings and extra space has been allocated for the fire department in the fairgrounds. All necessary arrangements have been made keeping in mind the convenience of the visitors.
For the six days of the fair, artists from various districts of West Bengal will present cultural programs on the entertainment stage. The administration has taken extensive measures regarding security and traffic control.
Bolpur SDPO Ricky Agarwal said that approximately 2500 police personnel have been deployed under the leadership of Additional Superintendent of Police, SDPO, and DSP level officers. This includes women police officers, RAF personnel, plainclothes police, anti-crime teams, and special rescue teams. In addition to the approximately 200 permanent CCTV cameras already installed in the Bolpur-Santiniketan area, 300 temporary cameras have been installed at the fairgrounds and entry gates for security surveillance. Five high-tech drone cameras will also be used for monitoring.
36 police assistance centers, 10 watchtowers, and 8 drop gates have been set up at the fair. A Child-Friendly Corner has been set up for the safety of children. To minimize the risk of children getting lost, arrangements have been made to provide them with cards containing their parents' phone numbers to wear around their necks. Police-operated rickshaw services and emergency ambulance facilities will also be available for elderly and physically challenged visitors.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
