Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025 Date: When is Poncheeshe Boishakh — May 8 or 9?

Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2025, marking the 164th birth anniversary of the iconic poet, philosopher, and Nobel Laureate, will be celebrated on Friday, May 9, according to the Bengali calendar. In West Bengal and among Bengali communities worldwide, this day is observed as Poncheeshe Boishakh — the 25th day of the Bengali month Boishakh — as per the traditional Bengali Panjika.

Tagore was born on May 7, 1861, in Kolkata (then Calcutta) to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. His birthday falls on 25 Boishakh, 1268 Bangabda, as per the Bengali calendar. In 2025, 25 Boishakh corresponds to May 9, not May 8, thereby confirming that the celebration of Tagore Jayanti in Bengal will be on May 9, 2025.

Outside of Bengal, however, Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti is often observed annually on May 7 following the English calendar. This dual observance sometimes causes confusion, but in Bengal, the cultural and emotional significance of Poncheeshe Boishakh takes precedence.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was a towering figure in Indian and world literature. The first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1913), he reshaped Bengali literature, music, and art through his powerful blend of tradition and modernism. His compositions, including “Jana Gana Mana” (India’s national anthem) and “Amar Shonar Bangla” (Bangladesh’s national anthem), continue to inspire millions.

Tagore Jayanti is celebrated with immense devotion in Bengal. Cultural institutions, schools, and universities organise programs featuring Rabindra Sangeet, poetry readings, dance dramas, and plays written by Tagore. Shantiniketan — the university town he founded — becomes a focal point of festivities.