Vikas Khanna honours Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary at his New York restaurant; writes ‘We pay homage to one of India’s greatest cultural icons’

On the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti, celebrated annually on May 7, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna paid a heartfelt tribute to the legendary poet at his New York restaurant, Bungalow. In a beautifully curated homage, Khanna transformed his culinary space into a soulful ode to Tagore, blending poetry, aroma, tradition, and flavors of Bengal.Sharing glimpses on Instagram, Vikas wrote, “Today Bungalow Honors Rabindranath Tagore! Poet. Philosopher. Visionary. We pay homage to one of India’s greatest cultural icons — Rabindranath Tagore — whose words transcended borders and whose spirit continues to shape generations.”The celebration was nothing short of a sensory experience. A hand-drawn rangoli made of vermillion and mogra flowers adorned the restaurant’s floor, while a fresh toran of marigolds welcomed guests at the entrance — all echoing Tagore’s connection to nature and tradition. His Nobel Prize-winning work, Gitanjali, was prominently placed in the restaurant’s library, adding a touch of literary reverence to the setting.“The air carries the gentle fragrance of tuberose incense, evoking the quiet, meditative world of Shantiniketan. At every table, a Bungalow postcard offers his immortal poem, “Where the mind is without fear” — an invocation of freedom, courage, and truth,” he wrote..Culinary homage was paid through a delicate Sandesh dessert, infused with cardamom and rose, and finished with a drizzle of nolen gur, a traditional Bengali jaggery, celebrating Tagore’s known love for sweets.Social media was abuzz with praise. “What a beautiful tribute to Rabindranath Tagore. Every detail speaks of reverence and love,” one admirer wrote. Another commented, “Truly an awesome tribute to Gurudev.”For the unversed, Rabindranath Tagore, born in 1861 in Kolkata, was a Nobel laureate, poet, philosopher, and one of India’s most revered cultural figures. Rabindra Jayanti marks a celebration of his enduring legacy in literature, music, and art — something Vikas Khanna captured with poetic grace.