Turn your creativity into a great career!
The historical heritage of Bengali specifically Indian performing arts is almost 4000 years old. In Bengal, no other private institution has ever taken such a great step for enhancing the Performing Arts Department and making it a glorious career opportunity. International perspectives and under the guidance of young and experienced professionals various degree courses on dancing, and singing have been started keeping in mind the Indian culture. Along with the Under Graduate courses in North Indian Classical, Rabindra Sangeet, Rabindra Nrtiya, and in Bharat Natyam, Diploma courses have also been started. Performing Arts has not only been a certified career option but also in higher studies for over a century in India. This Department started in 2020, focusing mainly on research and critical understanding of art forms such as Dance, Drama, and Music. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda always acknowledged the rightful place of music and dance in their vision of education. The department organizes regular functions and festivals like:
POUSH MELA & MAGH UTSAV (DEC / JAN)
Poush Mela is celebrated for three days. Performances of Bengali folk music, dance, firework displays and others are held during three days. Maghotsav This festival is celebrated by our university.
SAMABARTAN UTSAV (FOUNDATION DAY: 22ND FEB)
The Foundation Day is celebrated on 22nd February of every year. The Sister Nivedita University was inaugurated on this day in 2017. Every year this day is celebrated as the foundation day of the University. Students along with teachers perform on the stage. Renowned artists are also invited to the University for Guest Performances, and everything is done to pay respects to Sister Nivedita.
BASANTA UTSAV (SPRING FESTIVAL: MARCH)
The festival of colors otherwise known as "Holi", all over India, is actually known as "Doljatra" in Bengal and is famous as Basanta Utsav. To celebrate unity in diversity of the country, this festival was started by Kavi Guru Rabindranath Tagore. During this season the nature appears to be even more beautiful with the vibrant colors of the palash, shimul, krishnachura. In Kolkata, Basanta Utsav is celebrated with colorful performances ranging from dances, singing, recitations, dramas and many more. The performers wear graceful dresses and show off their colors on stage, dancing to Rabindra Sangeet. Applying abir (coloured powder) on the feet of the elders and on the faces of others, unifies traditions and values.
WORLD DANCE DAY (29th APRIL)
International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance on 29th April, birth anniversary of Jean- Georges Noverre, modern ballet dancer, by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), associated with UNESCO. The day strives to encourage participation and education in dance through events and festivals held on the date all over the world.
RABINDRA JAYANTI (25e BAISAKH: MAY)
Rabindra Jayanti or even more commonly known as 25e Boisakh celebrates the Birth Anniversary of the legendary Noble Laureate poet Vishwa Kavi Rabindranath Tagore. On this very auspicious day the students and the faculty members of the university pay their tributes to the immortal spirit. Various kind of performances are staged throughout the day. The performances are both performed in a hall and also on the Muktangan (open air theater).
WORLD MUSIC DAY (21st JUNE)
" Where words fail, music speaks"- Hans Christian Andersen
As we turn the pages of a calender with lots of hope in mind we search for holidays. Like that 21st June is the day a musician search for. It's their day to showcase their talent. World music day was first celebrated in the year 1982. Jack Lang, the French minister of culture first coined this idea of celebrating music day. This avant- garde idea was officially staged for the first time in Paris. Jack Lange and Maurice Fleuret initiated the first ever music festival in Paris. From that day people celebrate World Music day with pleasure and grandeur.
BARSHA MANGAL UTSAV (The Monsoon Festival: JULY)
“Oh come the great monsoons, oh heavenly monsoons, bring the joy and happiness unto this land”- just like this the whole of SNU bids the monsoons to come and start the showers of joy on the city of joy (Bengal), the chatak plays around and the fragrant smell of wet soil stays in the air. The welcoming of the monsoons is done through various creations of Rabindranath Tagore like dances on Rabindra Sangeet, poems and instrumental music. This has always been a special evening on the SNU campus.
VRIKSHAROPAN AND HALKARSHAN UTSAV (22E Sraban and Plantation Day: EARLY AUGUST)
Tagore always believed in the co-existence of mankind and nature, and thus introduced 'Vriksharopan'. This is actually a part of the environmental awareness programme, which SNU is following the same. Planting of saplings accompanied by singing and dancing is a very beautiful sight to behold. Halrakshan is always celebrated after Vriksharopan and it is primarily aimed at providing the work of ploughing its deserved dignity. Tagore was strongly against cutting down of trees in the rural areas. Tagore's death philosophy involved the birth of new life through the growth of new trees.
SHARADOTSAV (Durga Puja Festival: SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER)
The month of festivals, that all the Indians and speciallythe Bengalis wait for is October because many festivals are held during this month. People enjoy every bit of all the festivals, like- Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja, and Kali Puja (Deepavali / Dusshera). So, before the university goes on for the Puja Vacations Sharadotsav is celebrated with various performances welcoming Devi Durga to destroy the evil Mahishasura (the negativity of the society and of our minds) and bring us joy.
KHRISTA UTSAV (DECEMBER)
Ajeet Kumar Chakraborty written “In the year 1909 on the birth or death of great personalities”, in his book 'Brahmavidyalaya' (1911) which was decided to discuss their character and advice in Shantiniketan. On the Christmas Day first ceremony was observed through Sri Chaitanya and Kabir. This type of discussion was the effect of the promise of getting acquainted with to understanding the great personalities.
Since then this kind of ceremonies have been observed on every Christmas Day in Shantiniketan.
