Tagore's birth anniversary observed in Bengal

Kolkata, May 9 (UNI) The 146 birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, who influenced the course of culture for generations, was observed throughout West Bengal today amid great fanfare,remembering the poet-philosopher through songs, dances and various events.

In a massive participation, noted artistes assembled at Tagore's ancestral house at Jorasanko in North Kolkata in the early morning as bouquets were placed and incense sticks lit up before a portrait of the poet and repertoire of his songs reverberated the historic building solemnizing the occasion.

Starting off a month long celebration on the occasion of 'Rabindra Jayanti'(birth day of Rabindranath), artistes sang Tagore's songs and recited his poems before a big audience on the premises of the state-owned Rabindra Sadan.

A full length statue of Tagore,sculpted by Sarbari Roy Choudhury, was unveiled by Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharjee and classical singer Ajoy Chakraborty at a function at the Nazrul Manch in South Kolkata. Film star Mithun Chakraborty, whose organization 'Amra' organized the function, was also present.

In few places of the city, mobile troupes of artistes moved through different areas in the early morning waking up the people from sleep to the Tagore's melody .

Santiniketan, the abode of Tagore for the greater part of his life, also witnessed day-long cultural events as artistes sang songs and danced under the open sky in the famous 'amrakunja' of the Visva Bharati University.

Similar functions were organized by various cultural organizations, music institutions, schools and clubs in different parts of the state paying tributes to the poet.

The day being a holiday, State Government offices and all educational institutions remained closed.

UNI