Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti or Rabindra Jayanti is a cultural celebration to mark the birth anniversary of the luminary, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rabindranath Tagore, on his birth anniversary. Celebrated annually and globally in May, Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti falls on the 25^th day of the Bengali month of Boishakh. Tagore was born on the day in the year 1628, according to the Bengali calendar and 1861 AD, as per the Gregorian calendar. Tagore was also referred as as ‘ Gurudev’ , ‘Kabiguru’, and ‘Bhiswakabi’.

To celebrate Tagore’s birth anniversary we presented memoirs of Culture Wing’s first dance drama, ‘Aradhana’. It presented a story of love and separation redeemed through suffering and renunciation. It is symbolic of man’s spiritual quest for beauty and truth.

Aradhana was written and directed by L.A. Kazi, then Director, Culture, Nehru Centre, Choreographed by kathak danseuse Smt. Keka Sinha with music by Siraj Khan. Dance in this ballet is largely based on Kathak dance form. It starred Keka Sinha, Bireshwar Gautam, Girish Pardeshi and Pradeep Naik. This ballet was presented in Nehru Centre Auditorium on 10^th September 1996. The ballet was extremely well received and can be termed as a success. Hence it was presented a second time on 31^st August 1997.

Owing to the success of the ballet, later it was adapted in Marathi Sangeet Natak form and was presented on 2^nd October 1999. Written by Seema Shende and directed by Bhalchandra Pendharkar. Lyrics by Charusheela Oak and music by Asha Khadilkar. It starred Bhalchandra Pendharkar, Swapnil Bandodkar, Aparna Aparajit, Charusheela Oak, Varsha Kambli and Vinod Lavekar. Dance by Keka Sinha and Bireshwar Gautam.