Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025 Date: When is Poncheeshe Boishakh? History, Significance and How It’s Celebrated

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025 Date: When is Poncheeshe Boishakh? History, Significance and How It’s Celebrated

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of one of India’s greatest literary icons — the Nobel Laureate poet, philosopher, and artist, Rabindranath Tagore. In 2025, his 164th birth anniversary will be celebrated with great reverence and cultural pride on Wednesday, 7th May, according to the Gregorian calendar.

Tagore Jayanti is observed differently across regions depending on the calendar followed.

• Gregorian Calendar Date: 7th May 2025
• Bengali Calendar Date: 25th Boishakh, 1432 Bengali Era

In West Bengal, the celebration is based on the traditional Bengali calendar and is famously known as Poncheeshe Boishakh. The 25th day of the month of Boishakh typically falls on 8th or 9th May, but in other parts of India, the 7th of May remains the standard date for the celebration.

Born in 1861 in Kolkata, Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali polymath whose work forever changed Indian literature, music, and art. The youngest son of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi, Tagore became a global figure known for introducing contextual modernism in Indian culture.

He was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, for his collection of poems Gitanjali. His influence extended beyond literature into music, visual art, philosophy, and education. He founded Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, which continues to be a symbol of holistic education and creativity.

Poncheeshe Boishakh is more than just a birthday celebration; it is a cultural movement. In West Bengal and among Bengali communities worldwide, the day is filled with literary recitations, music, dance performances, and exhibitions based on Tagore’s works. Educational institutions, cultural organizations, and fans of Tagore pay homage through Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore’s songs), dramas, poetry readings, and lectures.

Santiniketan, the place closest to Tagore's heart, becomes the focal point of celebrations. Students, teachers, and admirers gather to reflect on his timeless contributions to Indian thought and global culture.

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025 serves as a beautiful reminder of the genius and vision of Gurudev. Whether on 7th May or Poncheeshe Boishakh, the day celebrates a legacy that continues to inspire generations. His life and works remain a guiding light in art, education, and human values.