Halakarshana: Unique celebration of ploughing in Santiniketan
Shiksha Satra student’s of Visva-Bharati performing on Halakarshana 2019
It was 8 am in the morning of 9th August. Though the sun was hidden beneath the veil of condense monsoon clouds, but still the heat can be sensed throughout the Sriniketan Fair Ground. Even people wearing white kurta and pajamas are fully soaked with their sweat, seems like they have been gone thorough a light shower of the monsoon rain. But nothing can stop their eager eyes to witness the age-old traditional agricultural event of Visva-Bharati, Halakarshana.
The word Halakarshana means Ploughing Ceremony. It is a symbolic tribute to the activity of ploughing the land. The ceremony aimed at endowing the work of ploughing with the dignity, almost sacredness that was its due.
Halakarshana celebrated in the rainy season on 23rd day of Shravana every year. This celebration has been observed over 91 years. It was started by Rabindranath Tagore, aiming to empower the farmers and acknowledge their hard work. Even Tagore himself ploughed the field in the initial days of Halakarshana. Tagore first initiated this on 1928. At that time it was celebrated as Sitayagga but now it is celebrated as Halakarshana. Every year an important dignitary is invited to drive the plough/