Kolkata: People in West Bengal along with the rest of India today paid homage to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his 76th death anniversary.
The day – 22 Shrabon in the Bengali calendar – was observed with due solemnity, underscoring Tagore’s genius that is evident in his compositions in music, art and penmanship.
A prolific writer whose works ranged from poetries and songs to short stories and plays, Tagore passed away ‘Baishe Srabon’ (The 22nd Srabon in the Bengali calendar) in August 1941.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today paid homage to Rabindranath Tagore on his death anniversary.
“Kabiguru Rabindranath Thakurer Prayan Dibase Sraddharghyo” (tribute to Kabiguru on his death anniversary), Ms Banerjee posted on her social networking page.
The State government will officially pay the death anniversary respects to the poet through a cultural evening at Rabindra Sadan. Rabindrasangeet and dance drama performances will be the main attractions of the event.
In Kolkata, a commemorative service was organised at Jorasanko Thakurbari ? the ancestral house of Tagore that now houses the administrative block of Rabindra Bharati University ? that was attended by students of the university and the common public alike.
Even as the skies opened up, they could not dampen the spirits of the hundreds who assembled at the Thakurbari since early in the morning to take part in the service.
Various social and cultural organisations and television channels are holding special programmes marking the death anniversary of the greatest poet of Bangla literature.
His death anniversary was also observed at Visva-Bharati University, established by him in Santiniketan of West Bengal.
Rabindra Tirtha in New Town organised functions to pay tribute to Tagore on his death anniversary and celebrate its 5th anniversary. (UNI)
