Posted on 1 December 2025:

Nandan Mela 2025: Santiniketan Kala Bhavan Honors Nandalal Bose’s Legacy

Santiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni (SKBP) brought art and memory alive through their Pagla Hawa Stall on 1st and 2nd December at Kala Bhavan. The vibrant showcase marked the 143rd birth anniversary of Shilpa Acharya Nandalal Bose, the visionary founder of Kala Bhavana who reshaped the course of Indian art.

In tribute, SKBP artists unveiled a stunning collection—bold brushstrokes, delicate textures, and imaginative forms—each echoing legendary artist Nandalal Bose’s ideals of tradition, freedom and creativity. Under the open sky, Kala Bhavan blossomed into a living canvas, with students painting emotions, sculpting stories, and transforming Nandan Mela into a festival of shared heritage.

“Nandan Mela is not merely an art fair—it is a bridge between fine arts and everyday life, a vision gifted to us by Nandalal Bose. Through our Pagla Hawa stall, the alumni of Kala Bhavana continue this tradition, creating affordable art and craft that belongs to the people, keeping Santiniketan’s spirit alive in every stroke and form.” — Dr. Janak Jhankar Narzary, Eminent Sculptor & President, SKBP

NANDAN MELA 2025: SANTINIKETAN’S LIVING CANVAS OF COMMUNITY AND CREATIVITY

The legendary artist Nandalal Bose envisioned the mela as more than an art fair—it was a bridge between fine arts and living traditions, a celebration of holistic learning, and a reminder that art flourishes when it belongs to the people. His vision continues to inspire Kala Bhavana, where each year the Nandan Mela blossoms into a vibrant community bond.

First conceived in 1973 to support student welfare, the mela channels its proceeds to the Kala Bhavana Students’ Aid Fund, ensuring that creativity nurtures not only culture but also compassion. From paintings and sculptures to ceramics, graphics, jewelry and craft items, the stalls—set up by students and teachers—offer affordable treasures that carry the spirit of Santiniketan.

“Santiniketan Kala Bhavan Praktoni, registered under the West Bengal Society Act, continues to honor its roots by creating art and craft that reaches the people. Through our Pagla Hawa stall at Nandan Mela, alumni share their creativity with the community each December, keeping alive the spirit of Kala Bhavana,” says Dr. Janak Jhankar Narzary

This year, as dusk fell on December 1, 2025, the campus glowed with fairy lights and youthful energy. Thousands of visitors from India and abroad gathered to admire, collect and celebrate art.

MORE THAN AN ART FAIR, NANDAN MELA BECAME A LIVING CANVAS OF OUR CULTURE, ECHOING NANDANLAL BOSE’S DREAM OF REVIVING INDIGENOUS ART LANGUAGES AND SHARING THEM WITH THE WORLD.