The West Bengal government has imposed a ban on Holi celebrations at Sonajhuri Haat in Santiniketan’s Birbhum district this year, citing concerns over potential damage to the area’s greenery, an official confirmed on March 11.
The popular marketplace, located near Visva Bharati University’s Santiniketan campus—a UNESCO World Heritage site—draws numerous domestic and foreign tourists during the festival.
Bolpur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Rahul Kumar stated that banners have been placed in the area, urging visitors not to park vehicles or celebrate Holi there. Additionally, recording videos of the festivities has also been discouraged.
“The department will seek support from the police and administration to enforce the ban but will also leave it to people for the better sense to prevail,” Kumar told PTI.
A spokesperson from Visva Bharati University emphasised that the institution cannot allow the campus to be open to the public for Holi due to its UNESCO heritage status.
Regarding the restrictions on celebrations in Sonajhuri’s forested area, the DFO clarified, “We are not issuing any diktat, and people in large groups will be prevented from walking to the Sonajhuri Khowai belt on March 14—the day of Dol Yatra.”
He added, “What we want to avert is the assembling of thousands of people during the festival of colours in an area where there is a green cover. The sprinkling of coloured water may cause irreparable damage to trees. Let us take the pledge to save Sonajhuri from any ecological damage on March 14.”
This marks the first time the forest department has imposed such a restriction at Sonajhuri Haat, which gained prominence as a Holi celebration hub after Visva Bharati ceased public participation in ‘Basanto Utsav’ (spring festival) in 2019.
“We are not opening the varsity campus (to all) for the ‘Basanto Utsav’ because of the UNESCO World Heritage status,” the Visva Bharati spokesperson reiterated.
“Opening it up for all would mean accommodating more than 5,00,000 people within the ashrama, which Visva Bharati cannot manage in terms of infrastructure and logistics,” he explained.
Reacting to the reported ban, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged political motives behind the decision.
“This has not happened in just one area. Police conduct coordination programs at the time of programs of other communities. We saw this happening during CPI(M) and TMC regimes. But in 2025, for the first time, meetings were held at every Police Station for Holi. What was the issue in the meeting? This is a special month for the other community, and this time Holi is falling on a Friday. So, it was openly said that colours should not be used and Holi should be celebrated.”
Adhikari further claimed that authorities had issued warnings about consequences for violating the restrictions.
“There will be arrests if someone does something. Birbhum Additional SP said that by 10 am, the Holi celebrations in Santiniketan should be wrapped up because it is Friday… This is happening in Bengal for the first time… Mamata Banerjee’s Police administration is doing politics of divides, it is doing politics of appeasement,” he said.
