Kolkata, May 8 : Amid the coronavirus scare, West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, observed the 159th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore on Friday. Maintaining social distancing guidelines, the Chief Minister garlanded the statue of Tagore at the Rabindra Sadan complex. She was accompanied by junior state cultural minister Indranil Sen. The state government organises several cultural events right on the Cathedral Road every year to observe the auspicious day. But this year, it was an exception owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, responding to the call of the state government, various artistes, including singers, dancers and film personalities, virtually joined hands via video conferencing and performed their act from their respective homes to celebrate the occasion in an unprecedented manner. The virtual cultural programme via video conferencing was conducted by Sen who played host standing right at the venue at Cathedral Road, in front of the Bangla Academy. /IANS