PHOTOS: ABRAR FAIYAZ NILOY

NAVEEN ISLAM TOREE

The first evening of Chhayanaut’s two-day Rabindra Utsab 1433 unfolded on May 8 at the Chhayanaut Milonayoton, as artistes and audiences gathered to celebrate the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore through music, recitation and performance.

For Bengalis, Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary remains more than a cultural observance. From classrooms and family gatherings to national ceremonies and cultural festivals, Tagore’s presence remains deeply woven into Bengali life, making occasions such as Rabindra Utsab feel both personal and communal at once.

The programme began at 6:30 pm with an opening address by Dr Sarwar Ali, president of the festival, who formally inaugurated the celebration. Reflecting on Tagore’s enduring influence on Bengali culture and humanity, he said, “Rabindranath spent his whole life trying to establish peace and harmony through his songs and stories. Chhayanaut is merely continuing what he had started.”

The auditorium lit up in soft blue lighting, framed by plants surrounding a towering portrait of Tagore at centre stage. The evening opened with a group dance performance of Bhubanjora Ashonkhani by Chhayanat artistes, setting a tranquil tone for the programme. Throughout the event, performers presented a carefully curated selection of Rabindra Sangeet, blending solo and ensemble performances that explored themes of devotion, love, humanity and nature.

Familiar compositions such as Tumi Robe Nirobe , Borisho Dhora-majhe Shantiro Bari , Aji Bijon Ghore , and Amar Hiyar Majhe drew visible emotional responses from the audience, many of whom quietly sang along from their seats. The opening session drew a packed audience, with attendees gathering well before the programme began. The applause that followed each performance remained warm, matching the celebratory mood of the evening.

Artistes including Jayanto Chattopadhyay, Mohuya Manjari Sunanda, Azizur Rahman Tuhin, Satyam Debnath, Senjuti Barua, Ria Chakraborty, Iffat Ara Dewan and Priyanka Bhattacharjee took part in the programme, alongside several group performances by Chhayanat members.

Instrumental accompaniment throughout the evening remained understated, allowing the lyrics and melodies to take centre stage. As the night progressed, the auditorium grew increasingly warm and welcoming, with Tagore’s birth anniversary being honoured through heartfelt performances that left listeners absorbed in the familiarity and timelessness of his words and melodies.

The second evening of Rabindra Utsab 1433 continued the celebration with another extensive lineup of Rabindra Sangeet performances by both senior and emerging artistes. Familiar compositions such as Mor Sondhyay Tumi Shundor Beshe Eshecho , Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot , Tomarei Koriachi Jiboner Dhrubotara , and Amar Mon Mane Na resonated through the auditorium, drawing warm responses from the audience throughout the evening. Artistes including Omee Dev, Protick Endaw, Mezbahul Azam Monzu, Suma Roy, Irin Pervin Onna, Warda Rihab, Sutapa Saha and Mahashweta Chowdhury took part in the programme alongside several ensemble performances by Chhayanaut members.

For decades, Chhayanaut has remained one of the country’s most prominent institutions dedicated to preserving Rabindra Sangeet and Bengali cultural traditions. Events such as Rabindra Utsab continue to draw audiences across generations, particularly those who grew up attending Chhayanaut seasonal celebrations and Baishakh programmes.

The festival concluded yesterday (May 9) with a collective rendition of the national anthem by Chhayanaut artistes, bringing the two-day celebration to a close. The audience responded with prolonged applause, ending an evening — and a festival — rooted in remembrance, music and shared cultural belonging.