A two-day national Rabindra Sangeet festival is set to take place in Dhaka on 8 and 9 May, commemorating the 165th birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The event will bring together leading exponents and emerging performers of Tagore’s musical heritage in a structured programme of performances, recitations, and dance presentations.
Organised by the Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha, this marks the 37th edition of the annual festival. It will be held at the auditorium of the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon. Organisers have confirmed that preparations are in their final phase, with participating artists engaged in intensive rehearsals ahead of the event.
The festival is being coordinated under the supervision of general secretary Piyush Barua and executive president Kajal Mukherjee, alongside noted Rabindra Sangeet artist Khairun Anam Kaiyum. According to organisers, the selection of performers follows a structured audition process, ensuring representation of both established and emerging talent within the genre.
Singer Tanzina Toma, one of the participating artists, noted that the rehearsal period over the past two weeks has fostered a collaborative atmosphere among performers. She also emphasised that the audition-based selection process adds significance to the festival for participating artists each year, as it offers a recognised platform for performance.
This year’s festival will be dedicated to the memory of several late cultural personalities, including Asha Bhosle, Shahjahan Hafiz, and Dalia Naushin. A key highlight of the programme will be the conferral of the Kalim Sharafi Padak upon renowned Rabindra Sangeet artist Iffat Ara Dewan in recognition of her contribution to the genre.
The inaugural session is scheduled for 4:00 pm on 8 May, and will be formally opened by writer and academic Anwara Syed Haque. Cultural researcher Mofidul Hoque is expected to attend as a special guest on the second day of the festival.
Festival Overview
| Category |
Details |
| Event |
37th National Rabindra Sangeet Festival |
| Dates |
8–9 May |
| Occasion |
165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore |
| Venue |
Liberation War Museum Auditorium, Agargaon, Dhaka |
| Organiser |
Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha |
| Participants |
Around 150 performers, plus guest artists |
| Daily Schedule |
Morning sessions from 10:00 am; main performances from 4:00 pm |
| Special Award |
Kalim Sharafi Padak awarded to Iffat Ara Dewan |
| Dedications |
Asha Bhosle, Shahjahan Hafiz, Dalia Naushin |
The festival is expected to feature approximately 150 performers from the organising body, alongside invited guests including vocalists, reciters, and dancers. Daily programming will begin with morning sessions at 10:00 am, followed by the main performances in the afternoon from 4:00 pm onwards, showcasing a broad spectrum of Tagore’s musical repertoire.
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