Country and foreign liquor worth Rs 2.5 crore was sold in six days during Bolpur’s traditional Poush Mela in West Bengal. The Santiniketan Trust and Visva-Bharati authorities officially declared conclusion of the Poush Mela at the Purba Palli ground after midnight on Sunday, December 28.
According to sources from the Excise Department, a total of Rs 2 crore 49 lakh 96 thousand was sold from about 44 shops in the Bolpur-Shantiniketan area during the six days of the fair. Of this, Rs 98 lakh 63 thousand of domestic liquor was sold while foreign liquor worth Rs 1 crore 25 lakh 25 thousand was sold.
Visitors from Bengal and abroad flocked to Santiniketan for six consecutive days to visit the famous Poush Mela. The stalls at the fair sold well. As a result, artisans and stall traders are naturally happy. Although the authorities have not yet released the final figures on how many crores of rupees were traded at the fair or how much income the Shantiniketan Trust earned from stall rentals. However, Visva-Bharati authorities and traders claim that both the money collected from stall rentals and overall sales this year have been more than last year.
Record liquor sales despite alcohol price rise in West Bengal
Liquor prices have increased in West Bengal from December 1. West Bengal Excise Directorate issued a notification stating that the new excise duty will be effective from the beginning of next month, i.e. from December 1. Following this, the prices of all types of domestic and foreign liquor have increased in the state. However, the price of beer remains unaffected.
The increase in excise duty was announced ahead of the peak sales period in December and January. Moreover, with the GST rate reforms, the tax on most goods and services has been brought under the 5 and 18 per cent tax brackets, leading to a loss in revenue for the state.
Why is Santiniketan’s Poush Mela so famous?
Poush Mela is a vibrant annual fair and cultural festival in Santiniketan, West Bengal, celebrating Bengali harvest and heritage with folk music (especially Baul), traditional crafts, art, and food, originating in 1894 by Rabindranath Tagore’s father. It typically starts around December 23, coinciding with the Bengali month of Poush, lasting several days, and showcases local artisans, musicians, dancers, and food, attracting visitors for its unique blend of culture, art, and rural charm.
This year, the Santiniketan’s Poush fair was bustling. There was a lot of trading in the presence of tourists not only from the state but also from different parts of the country and even abroad. During this time, the overall business sector of Santiniketan also grows. Although the rents of hotels, resorts and homestays are much higher than at other times of the year, there are hardly any empty rooms to be seen anywhere. Hoteliers claim that tourists will flock to Santiniketan not only during the Poush Mela, but also throughout the entire month of January in the winter season. Overall, businessmen, hotel owners and artisans are happy to see profits from this year’s Poush Mela.