Kolkata to host Tagore's tree-planting ceremony in a modern form

Adding a contemporary touch to tree-planting ceremonies that were organised by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, musicians and actors of Bengal will hold a concert here Saturday aimed at highlighting the conservation of nature on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Titled Green Earth Concert, the event scheduled for June 8 is based on the bard's "brikkharopan" (tree planting) tradition at Santiniketan, which houses Tagore's Viswa-Bharati university that was a part of his earth festival initiative.

Brainchild of famed classical singer Sounak Chattopadhyay, the event will be a blend of multimedia in the form of music, dance, recitation and narration in Bengali and English.

"We will perform on stage and show through our dance that tree plantation is necessary to make our earth greener. We will plant trees on stage and encourage people to plant trees and save the earth," Chattopadhyay told IANS.

The concert at the G.D.Birla Sabhaghar is aimed at spreading awareness among the masses through Tagore's literary works.

Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee will also participate by narrating and reciting some of the poet's works.

Singer Lopamudra Mitra and elocutionist Bratati Bandyopadhyay will also be part of the show, organised in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (India) and various international NGOs.

Run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day is observed June 5 every year to encourage people to take positive environmental action.

The global host for 2013 is Mongolia with the theme 'Think Eat Save:Reduce Your Foodprint'.