Bipin Chandra Pal, one of the most renowned revolutionaries during the Swadeshi struggle initiated after the Partition of Bengal in 1905, was arrested and imprisoned since he refused to give evidence against Aurobindo Ghosh in the Bande Mataram conspiracy case. His release in 1908 led to major celebrations in different parts of the country including the city of Madras (present-day Chennai), Tamil Nadu.
There were various organisations that were established in the course of the swadeshi movement, namely, Chennai Jana Sangham, Bharata Bahandara Swadeshi Vastra Pracharini Sabha, Swadeshi League, Sarada Association etc. These organisations decided to celebrate and conduct ‘Mother Worship’ in order to honour the release of the revered leader Bipin Chandra Pal. Shops were closed and decorated with swadeshi articles and tricolour. Marches in various parts of Madras were organised. C. Subramani Bharati and Ethiraj Surendranath Arya, two important leaders during the swadeshi movement encouraged the people to defy government rulers and break those laws that interfered in their natural rights and indigenous way of life.
Thus, the release of Bipin Chandra Pal led to an atmosphere of celebration since it was a victory against the arbitrary rule of the British judicial system. Madras reverberated with nationalist slogans and re-established the fact that the Partition of Bengal had affected every Indian equally and sent a message that the British would not get away with such decisions in the future.
Source: Indian Culture Portal