Tagore’s 161st birth anniv celebrated with in-person events after 2yrs

Different government and private cultural organisations organized cultural programmes, discussions and awards ceremonies across the country on Sunday to celebrate the 161st birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagor.

These events marked the glorious return of in-person celebrations of the ‘Biswa Kabi’s birth anniversary, after being virtually shelved for the last two years due to the global pandemic of COVID-19. 

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with Kushtia district administration, organised a programme at Rabindra Kuthibari in Shilaidaha, Kushtia on Sunday afternoon, which was joined by Jatiya Sangsad speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury as chief guest.

The artistes of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), led by eminent Rabindra exponent Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, performed the national anthem at the event. Marking the occasion, BSA organised a discussion session and arranged a painting exhibition and art camp on Sunday afternoon at the National Art Gallery in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.

The exhibition, which will continue till May 22, is showcasing reproductions of Tagore’s paintings and paintings portraying him, displaying 124 artworks in total.

Besides, a special art camp titled “Rong Tulite Bishwakabi” was also inaugurated by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky alongside BSA Fine Arts Director Syeda Mahbuba Karim Mini prior to the exhibition, featuring eminent painters Farida Zaman, Biren Shome, Abdul Mannan and more.

Chhayanaut, country’s leading cultural institution, lifted the curtain on a two-day cultural festival titled ‘Rabindra Utshab’ on Sunday evening.

One of the regular calendar events of Chhayanaut, the programme is featuring solo songs, group songs, recitation and dance recitals at Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban in Dhanmondi.

This marked the in-person return of this festivity since 2019 after being arranged online in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. Celebrating the diversified musical creations of Rabindranath Tagore, the first-day of the festival featured enthralling musical performances by renowned artists including Mohua Monjuri Sunanda, Rokaiya Hasina Nily and more.

Besides, Bangla Academy is organizing a special discussion and ‘Rabindra Award 2022’ ceremony at its Abdul Karim Sahitya Bisharad Auditorium at 11 today. The event is being chaired by Bangla Academy President and eminent novelist Selina Hossain.

Dhaka University organised a discussion and cultural programme on Sunday at the TSC Auditorium.

Several other cultural institutions and organizations also held multiple commemorative events, celebrating the 161st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore in both Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.