Environmentalist Subhash Dutta has written to the District Magistrate of Birbhum, Dhabal Jain, seeking a ban on the playing colours at the Sonajhuri forest in Santiniketan during Basant Utsav. In an email to the District Magistrate, Mr Dutta stated that the use of gulal in the forest area on the day of the festival would cause environmental damage.
This year too, Basant Utsav will not be held in the Sonajhuri forest, and the playing of colours will not be permitted. The forest department is set to issue strict guidelines once again. In previous years, large numbers of people from across the country gathered in the Sonajhuri area during the popular and colourful spring festival.
There have been long-standing complaints that the forest and its ecosystem suffer damage during Basant Utsav, prompting the authorities to adopt a stricter stance. District Magistrate Dhabal Jain has made it clear that any damage to the forest will not be tolerated. Mr Dutta has urged the administration to impose prohibitory orders.
Bolpur Forest Range Officer Jyotish Barman confirmed that playing Holi in the forest will not be allowed this year, as was the case last year. He said guidelines would be issued after instructions are received from higher authorities.
Mr Dutta has also alleged that the Khowai Haat in Sonajhuri is illegally situated on forest land, a matter currently pending before the National Green Tribunal. In this context, he has called for strict measures to ensure that no non-forest activities take place on forest land on the day of Holi.
Local residents claim that although Visva-Bharati University has suspended its official spring festival for several years, large crowds continue to gather in the forest on Basant Utsav. They allege that vehicles enter the forest, trees are damaged and plastic waste pollutes the area.
In 2019, millions attended Basant Utsav at Visva-Bharati University. The university subsequently decided to discontinue the event from the following year in the interest of protecting the environment and the ashram premises. After Santiniketan received UNESCO World Heritage recognition on 17 September 2023, the festival has not been held on campus during Holi in order to preserve its heritage character.
This year, the university authorities have decided to celebrate Basantotsav in a limited, domestic setting on 6 March.
Local MLA and state minister Chandranath Singha said that, as in previous years, Basant Utsav will be organised in almost every ward of Bolpur town. He added that since the university has discontinued its event, Dol Jatra celebrations will be held across the town to support the local economy.