Five-Day Lalon Fest In Kushtia
The mystic leader still inspires devotees
The five-day-long Lalon Smaran Utsab 2013 (Lalon memorial festival) which is the largest annual festival by the bauls (traditional singers) commenced on October 16. The festival is taking place at the shrine complex of the most influential spiritual Baul Fakir Lalon Shah at Chheuriya in Kushtia.
The festival is arranged to mark the 123rd death anniversary of the great baul of Bangladesh which has been jointly organized by the Lalon Academy and Kushtia district administration.
Thousands of bauls, shais and other devotees from all over the country and elsewhere have gathered at the Shai-Jee’s Akhra (social gathering) area to commemorate Fakir Lalon Shah.
At the festival, Baul singers perform various Lalon songs and cite parts of Lalon philosophy through the mystic songs. For the bauls, this festival and their short stay at Lalon Shai’s Akhra is actually a big opportunity to rejuvenate their spiritual bonds.
The festival was officially inaugurated on October 17, instead of October 16 due to Eid-Ul-Azha celebrations. Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia Belal Hossain inaugurated the cultural programme on the night of 16 October and the Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu officially inaugurated the festival on October 17.
The shrine has been decorated beautifully with illuminations and festoons for the occasion; the Baul Mela (fair) is one of the main attractions of the event.
Local police have taken all the necessary precautions for any kind of emergencies, said Kushtia police superintendent Mafizuddin. Additional police have already been deployed while plain-clothed undercover police are patrolling the shrine area to avert unwanted situation.
The deputy commissioner of Kushtia Belal Hossain who is also the president of Lalon academy told New Age that they have taken all kinds of initiatives to organize the festival smoothly to mark Lalon Shah’s 123rd death anniversary.
Fakir Lalon Shah was a Bengali baul saint, along with being a spiritualist, a songwriter, a social reformer and a thinker. He was born in 1774 in the northern part of the country. He died on 1 Kartrik, 1297 Bangla year (17 October, 1890). The devotees of Lalon have been observing his death anniversary since then.
-With New Age input
