Article
Santiniketan
Location:
Birbhum, West Bengal
List:
World Heritage List
Criteria:
(iv) & (vi)
Year of Inscription:
2023
Founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901, Santiniketan is a continuing legacy of a unique model of education recalling ancient Indian ideas as well as internationalism through a living institution, embodied in the buildings, landscape, artworks and continuing festivals and traditions. Fostering a creative haven for intellectuals, artists, and artisans, it challenged colonial norms with its unique blend of ancient Indian as well as Art Deco influences.
Associated Living Heritage
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore initiated celebrations of various nature-focused Utsavs (festivals) which are still integral to the character of Santiniketan. Some of the festivals celebrated still at Santiniketan include Vasantotsav (spring festival), Varsha Mangal (monsoon festival), and Maghotsav.
These festive celebrations have shaped the unique culture of the institution, especially with local communities incorporating traditional Indian forms and rituals such as decorating festival sites using flowers, creating Alpana designs on the ground, chanting Vedic verses, and blowing conch shells.
