Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore will be honoured during the Tagore Festival which will take place in Cairo from 8 to 12 May.

Originally from Bengal, Tagore (1861-1941) was a remarkable philosopher and artist credited with reshaping Bengali literature and music and moving Indian art towards contextual modernism.

Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913, becoming the first non-European recipient of the prestigious award.

The festival will include a number of cultural activities aimed at showcasing Tagore's creative versatility through film, dance, a literary seminar and exhibitions.

Programme:

Sunday 8 May, 6pm: Exhibition

Museum of Egyptian Modern Arts, Cairo Opera House grounds, Zamalek.

Painting exhibition commemorating Tagore: The display will showcase works by Egyptian and international artists who drew their own impressions of the renowned Bengali poet.

The exhibition also involves cooperation of the Egyptian Caricature Society represented with works by Egyptian cartoonists. 

The exhibition will open on 8 May at 6pm and will continue until 12 May, from 10am to 5pm.

Monday 9 May, 10am: Book exhibition

National Library of Egypt, 121 Cornish El-Nil, Boulaq, Cairo.

The Tagore Book Exhibition will include books and plays by Tagore translated into Arabic, including Paper Boats, Ghare Baire, the Post Office, Gitanjali, The Gardner, and Gitanjali, among others.

The exhibition will open on 9 May at 10am and will continue until 12 May, from 10am to 5pm.

Monday 9 May, 8pm: Dance performance

Hanager Arts Centre: Theatre, Cairo Opera House grounds, Zamalek.

Dance Drama 'Shapmochan' performed by Dona Ganguly and her troupe.

Written by Tagore, the drama has some of the finest lyrics, while the story revolves around love conveyed through music and dance. 

File Photo. Meeting of two great minds: Rabindranath Tagore spends time with Mahatama Gandhi. (Photo: Reuters)

Tuesday 10 May, 6pm: Film screening

Hanager Arts Centre: Cinema, Cairo Opera House grounds, Zamalek.

Screening of Ghare Baire (1984), an Indian Bengali romantic drama directed by Satyajit Ray, an Indian filmmaker who worked mostly in Bengali cinema.

The movie, starring Victor Banerjee and Soumitra Chatterjee, is based on Tagore’s book of the same title.

Wednesday 11 May, 8pm: Music performance

Artistic Creativity Centre, Cairo Opera House grounds, Zamalek.

Rabindra Sangeet, also known as Tagore Songs, with music and lyrics written by Tagore: The songs will be performed by renowned Indian singer Shreya Guhathakurta.

The performance of Rabindra Sangeet will be preceded by a Short Documentary on Tagore; 'The Story of Geetanjali: Songs Offerings.'

Thursday 12 May, 6pm: Literary seminar

Supreme Council of Culture, Cairo Opera House grounds, Zamalek.

Seminar on Contemporary Literature: Tagore, Shawky and Mahfouz: The seminar will have two Egyptians and one Indian speaker, all renowned figures in the field of literature.

The seminar will be moderated by the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Culture. 

File photo. Rabindranath Tagore [L] with Albert Einstein [R]. (Photo: Reuters)

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