INTRODUCTION
Art and culture are intertwined and reflected through various forms and ways; one similar way is expositions. As we know, art can be represented in any form or way, and it’s relatively vague to put the description of art into a limited box. This connotation of art is being challenged through a medium that is the Nandan Mela of Visva Bharati, Santiniketan. Thus, it would be incorrect to state that a fair or show cannot be art, as the Nandan Mela, or the fair of Santiniketan, reminds us of the combination of art, culture, tradition, memory, and community. Santiniketan is the epitome of culture, tradition, and, yes, art that represents India in general and West Bengal in particular, which Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had imagined. Santiniketan not only embodies the gospel of Rabindranath but also showcases what Tagore envisaged as a philosophical society that embodies the substance of humanism, education, culture, and art. Among these, Nandan Mela holds a special representation of art as well as culture. It would be unjustified to call this fair merely a fair; rather, it’s a living experience of culture with art as one of the main constituents.
ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF NANDAN MELA
In remembrance of the eminent artist Nandalal Bose (1882-1966), Kala Bhavan of Visva-Bharati holds an annual festival that is called Nandan Mela. He is known as one of the eminent artists of modern Indian art and a key figure in the establishment of the Kala Bhavan of Visva-Bharati in 1921 with a motive to encourage art, culture, and tradition and also to serve the nation. Based on the data, he is being referred to as the “arts of Nandalal Bose are the treasure” among the works of nine artists by the government of India, the Department of Culture, in 1976.
Way back in 1973, this tradition of art took the shape of a fair that indulged not only art but also the cultural and social history of India and defined that there is also a language of art that speaks to the layers of society with deep philosophical meanings to the rear of it. The main idea behind this fair was to raise a fund for the welfare of the public, which was being collected and stored by the Kala Bhavan Student Aid Fund. The philosophical idea of Nandalal Bose was to make people aware of art, its language, and its teaching methodology. Art should not be confined only to the purpose of education but also to making it a living experience for various indigenous art forms of India. This fair takes place every year in the month of December by the various departments of Kala Bhavan, such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, and many more. They start their preparation early, creating stalls for paintings and various art forms, as well as food stalls and a cultural stage. This whole event reflects the ethos of Visva Bharati, Santiniketan.
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NANDAN MELA
It would not be incorrect to say that this Nandan Mela is an ‘Archival Documentary of Art and Aesthetics’ that defines the culture and tradition. As a student of Visva Bharati, this fair embodies the theme of diversity and inclusivity, as it’s a community event that explores life, human emotions, culture, tradition, society, political dissent, climate change, gender, equality, and many more themes. It has become a huge event that is being attended by many people across the world, and it is not limited to the students of Visva Bharati. But one could question why it is interesting to visit this fair. It is because it not only helps in understanding the diversification of art but also supports young artists and buying various kinds of aesthetics or artistic or vibrant art forms, and one of the crucial factors is the experience of the legacy of Nandalal Bose among the art of youths and their intellectuality.
According to my knowledge and experiences in these past four years living in Santiniketan, this fair is a cultural landmark of creativity, social inclusivity, collective memory, artistic ideals, and a kind of socio-cultural communication between the artists and the public audience. Here, art acts as a speaker through the eyes of an artist to the larger audience. As I have already written, Nandan Mela is also about remembering the essence of Nandala Bose and his contribution towards the creation of the Kala Bhavan but why is it important to remember? The basic answer is that he is one of the central figures in the creation of modern Indian art and a pioneer figure who showed a path of artistic expression in the Indian subcontinent.
This school rejected the Western imposition of art upon the Indians and gave shape to indigenous Indian techniques, themes, and aesthetics. His legacy in creating Kala Bhavan, an art space, reminds us of the perspective of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s idea about art that depicts something deeper beyond the human imagination.
ART AND AESTHETICS OF NANDAN MELA
Every winter, the quiet lanes of Santiniketan Eco come alive with the vibrant rhythm of creativity as artists, students, and visitors gather to celebrate Nandan Mela, an annual art festival rooted in the legacy of Kala Bhavan, the art faculty of Visva Bharati. This fair is more than a marketplace; it is a cultural phenomenon where tradition, experimentation, and community come together on handmade paper, canvas, terracotta, and textiles. This mela shows the diverse motifs and artworks that make the fair an unforgettable experience for the infant to old-age personality.
The visual identity of Nandan Mela begins with Alpona, an age-old decorative art of Bengal where white rice paste is used to paint auspicious designs on floors during festivals. At this fair, these motifs step out of domestic thresholds and find their way onto ceramic plates, paper scrolls, tote bags, bookmarks, and handmade diaries. The most familiar symbols include lotus, conch shell, sun rays, and many more, turning them into stylized patterns.
No visit to Nandan Mela is complete without pausing at the stalls overflowing with paintings, sketches, and prints. Here, one encounters a stunning range from subtle pen and ink drawings to powerful linocuts and etchings that challenge social conventions. The utmost specialty of these works is their origin. Created by the students, alumni, and faculty of Kala Bhavan, these pieces are mass-produced and also crafted individually. The themes are diverse, such as Santhal dancers, Baul singers, abstract forms, folk myths, or the portraits of village life.
A walk through the ceramics section of Nandan Mela is like stepping into a gallery of living earth. Terracotta figures, sculptural mugs, and glazed pottery occupy the tables, each telling its own story. The motifs on pottery include stylized birds, fish, floral vines, and human faces, sometimes whimsical, sometimes meditative. Whether utilitarian or symbolic, each item carries the mark of craftsmanship honed in the classrooms and courtyards of Kala Bhavan.
Another major attraction of this mela lies in its hand-dyed and hand-printed textiles. Reviving techniques of Jamuna Sen, Kala Bhavan continues the legacy of batik, tie-and-dye, and block printing. These techniques are employed on cotton and silk to produce scarves, saris, dupattas, wall hangings, and cushion covers, all carrying intricate designs and earthy tones.
In addition to the traditional media, the mela showcases innovative products from graphic design and mixed media departments. This includes handmade calendars, bookmarks, origami mobiles, and illustrated zines. Many of these are playfully interactive or concept-driven, making them popular among younger audiences.
What makes Nandan Mela distinct is not just the variety of artworks but its deep commitment to accessibility. Items are priced intentionally low, allowing visitors from all walks of life to own a piece of original art. It is not unusual to find hand-printed artwork for 100 rupees or a ceramic teacup for 250 rupees.
CONCLUSION
Nandan Mela is beyond the celebration of a two-day event; it’s a living archival document of art and culture that drives us towards the cultural, traditional, and humanistic vision of Santiniketan that both Rabindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose had envisioned. This epitome of Santiniketan shows us the combination of two ideas, the philosophical thought of Rabindranath Tagore and the artistic philosophy of Nandalal Bose, which is shown live through Nandan Mela and takes place annually in December.
Works Cited
Bhavana, Kala. “Nandan Mela – Vibrant Art Fair in Santiniketan.” Bolpur-Santiniketan.com, https://www.bolpur-santiniketan.com/cultures-festivals/nandan-mela/. Accessed 2 June 2025.
“Nandalal Bose.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NandalalBose. Accessed 2 June 2025.
“Nandan Mela.” Santiniketan, 2024, https://www.santiniketan.in/nandan-mela/. Accessed 2 June 2025.