The tranquil spirit of Santiniketan found a vibrant home in the heart of Kolkata as Uttarayan, a three-day festival curated by Karu, concluded at the Alka Jalan Foundation, Daga Nikunj. For three days, the heritage venue was transformed into a living atelier, bridging the gap between historical design philosophy and contemporary craftsmanship.

The festival opened with an inauguration that set a tone of quiet reflection. Attendees were greeted by the Karu Uttarayan Exhibit, a curated journey into the aesthetics of Santiniketan’s founding masters, alongside a specialized showcase of hand-carved sculptures and traditional artefacts. A highlight was the special exhibition of paintings by Sri Sudhir Ranjan Mukherjee, an icon of the Alpona tradition, which drew significant admiration for its delicate artistry.

The intellectual core of the event featured deep-dive dialogues. On the first day, scholars like Dr. Tapati Guha-Thakurta and Ina Puri discussed how Kala Bhavana shaped India’s visual language. Subsequent panels addressed the ethics of architecture and the art of life, featuring insights from luminaries such as Sushobhan Adhikary and Saswati Guha-Thakurta.

Evenings at Daga Nikunj were marked by evocative performances that echoed the rhythms of nature. Debashish Roy Choudhury’s recital, Music for the World’s Nest, explored the emotional range of Tagore’s compositions. The second evening celebrated spring with the dance drama Basanta, while the finale featured a stirring performance of the classic Shapmochan by Santiniketan artistes, bringing the poet’s enduring spirit to life.

By showcasing independent craft houses alongside Karu’s multidisciplinary designs, the festival successfully reimagined Santiniketan’s legacy of restraint and ecology for a modern audience. As the curtains fell on this inaugural edition, Uttarayan left behind a profound reminder of how traditional ways of thinking continue to offer clarity in the present day.

Priyanka Dutta