Upon entering the Paribesh Bandhab Haat, one is immediately carried away to a different realm of vibrant hues, cheerful faces and a serene atmosphere nestled in the lap of nature. Against the backdrop of lush greenery and beside the Damodar River, the fair welcomes visitors with stalls of intricately crafted home decor, clay dolls, and homemade traditional sweets and food items. This haat blended the concept of sustainability with tradition, offering a stark contrast to the bustling malls and markets of the city.

Held from 24 December to 31 December, this eight-day eco-friendly fair at Mahisrekha, Madhabpur village, Howrah, was organised by the Madhabpur Paribesh Chetana Samity. Walking into the fair felt like stepping into a postcard of rural Bengal. Stalls numbering around 35 to 40 highlighted how the local community is continuing to preserve their age-old tradition.

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Jayeeta Kundu, secretary of Madhabpur Paribesh Chetana Samity, shared how this unique initiative came into being. “All of this started in 2015 when I planted ten trees in our locality on my daughter’s 10th birthday. Upon sharing it on social media, I received positive responses, including one from a local artist, Tapan Kar. Later, during a conversation, he shared how a banyan tree in our locality is deteriorating due to complete neglect and urged me to take measures to save it,” Kundu shared, adding, “After taking small steps to conserve the tree, this became a commitment to conserve other trees as well.” This finally led to the formation of Madhabpur Paribesh Chetana Samity, an organisation working towards conserving the green.

The banyan tree not only became the cause for their organisation’s development but also inspired the logo of the Samity, created by Kar himself on a banyan leaf.

Arranging the Paribesh Bandhab Haat for the second year, Kundu said how the haat started. “Winters are synonymous with picnics and fairs; however, people often leave behind plastic waste and thermocol plates and create excessive pollution. For this reason, we envisioned a different kind of fair that respects nature and sets a model for others.”

At the Paribesh Bandhab Haat, the use of thermocol and plastic was replaced by biodegradable materials like sal leaves and supari leaves. Even the visitors were encouraged to bring lunch boxes to carry the food items. For those without boxes, there were earthen plates. This thoughtful execution led to an entirely waste-free event.

Strolling through the fair, one would find various handmade products that are becoming rare in urban settings, such as ‘Tepa Putul’, (hand-pressed clay dolls that are part of Bengali tradition), wooden toothbrushes, kitchen utensils, home-decor items, handwoven clothes and many more. This showcased how people can live while keeping environmental protection in mind. “We focus on products that are sustainable and handmade,” Kundu said. She further added, “Traditional foods like homemade pickles, hand-made chocolates, and rural sweets are also sold. These items have almost vanished from the urban diet, but we try to preserve them as they are part of our culture.”

Beyond conserving nature, the fair also played a crucial role in empowering the local communities. Many housewives who never imagined stepping outside their home for work are now successfully running stalls in the fair. “By organising the haat, we also aimed to encourage the local community to come forward and contribute to the fair. This haat provided an excellent opportunity for local people, specifically the women, to actively participate and showcase their talents and products (or food items),” Kundu affirmed.

The haat not only provided a space for enjoyment but also delivered a powerful message. “We wanted to show that it’s possible to arrange fairs and picnics without microphones, loudspeakers, or plastic or thermocol and still have a great time,” Kundu emphasised.

The response from visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. “People, mostly from cities, visited the fair and were intrigued by the concept. They appreciated our effort and carried forward the message of preserving and conserving,” Kundu claimed.

Photographs by BISWAJIT GHOSHAL