Ashraful Islam Joy:

A three-day colorful Rabindra Festival was kicked off at the historic Rabindra Kachari Bari premises in Shahjadpur upazila headquarters in Sirajganj on Friday marking the 165th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku inaugurated the festival on the day morning.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhith was also present there as a special guest.

The entire Kachari Bari premises became bustling with activities of the government officials, socio-cultural and political personalities since morning around the festival. The area was filled with life with the walk of Rabindra devotees, visitors and culture lovers.

The three-day event will feature various cultural performances including Rabindra Sangeet, dance, lyrical drama and discussion meetings.

A lively Rabindra Mela is also being held there. Along with local artists, Rabindra Sangeet loving artists from different parts of the country participate at this event.

Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said, Rabindranath Tagore was the ‘Guru’ (master) of Bengali literature. When we remember Bengal, we also remember Rabindranath.

Visitors to the festival said that, the duration of such events should be further extended to introduce the worldwide famous poet Rabindranath Tagore to the next generation in a deeper way.

It is worth noting that, during his stay in Shahjadpur from 1890 to 1897, Rabindranath Tagore composed numerous timeless literary works including ‘Sonar Tori’, ‘Chaitali’, ‘Chuti’ and ‘Postmaster’.